Aberdeen Covid-19 appeal to give thousands of pounds to local charities

16 May 2020

Within two weeks of being created, the Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust Aberdeen Covid-19 Hardship Fund is set to disburse £161,596 to help citizens experiencing severe financial hardship due to the pandemic.

Since its launch on Friday 01 May, the hardship fund has received £173,275 in donations including £100,000 from Aberdeen City Council via the Common Good Fund.

The Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust met on Wednesday 13 May to consider 51 applications to the Hardship Fund from which 24 local registered charities were successful in this first round of allocation of funding.

The 24 charities will be revealed as soon as all 51 applicants have been informed of the outcome.

Grants range from £35,000 to £2,000 and all money will go directly to supporting individuals and families by providing food, nappies, clothing, toiletries, energy costs, equipment for clients, or small hardship payments. Amongst those to receive support are particularly vulnerable and at-risk groups including those in poverty or ill health, disabled, ethnic minorities, unemployed, children and young people, older people, and others particularly affected by the crisis.

It is estimated that this round of funding will support approximately 3,640 individuals and 630 families with over 5,000 food parcels and 20,000 meals being provided.

Donations are still being sought and a special crowdfunding page on www.aberdeencovid19.org allows anyone anywhere to donate to this worthy cause.

Any organisation or individual wishing to discuss making a sizable donation can email lordprovost@aberdeencity.gov.uk marking it for the attention of Garry Watson, Clerk to The Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust.

100% of all donations received will go directly to helping those experiencing genuine hardship in Aberdeen due to COVID-19.

The Fund will now remain open for applications until 11.59pm on Friday 29 May 2020 and further decisions on funding will be made in early June. Charities who wish to make an application should go to https://www.aberdeencovid19.org/apply for further information and advice.

The special hardship fund is a partnership between The Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust, The Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council.

It followed a request to the Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett, from The Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen and a local businessperson, for the Charitable Trust, to be used as a vehicle to create a hardship fund for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lord Provost said: “On behalf of the Charitable Trust I would like to thank everyone who has donated to the hardship fund so far and urge others to consider doing so to.

“There are a great many charities out there that need our support and the hardship fund has shown that it can raise money and disburse it very quickly to local registered charities here in Aberdeen. By doing so we can reach our citizens who are most in need due to the pandemic. Together we can get through this.”

Mervyn Donald, Deacon Convenor, The Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen said: “We are delighted that the fund has begun gathering momentum and will be going to the charities who are tackling the issues associated with the corona virus pandemic. In turn this will support families in the most desperate need in the area.

“We are thrilled to have donations from both individuals and companies from the region. Local citizens of Aberdeen will benefit greatly from this capital in way of everyday necessities and hardships they may face during this long-term lockdown.”

Maggie Hepburn, Chief Executive, ACVO said: “We are happy to see vital funding going to a wide range of charities to support the work they are doing. While there is a variety of funding available nationally, the Hardship Fund is going directly to individuals and families most in need in Aberdeen.

“We understand the Fund is unable to help everyone who applies, as demand is high, and here at ACVO we are committed to continuing to help organisations who are responding to the Covid-19 crisis.”

For more information on other sources of local and national funding, and direct links to ACVO Funding Officers, please go to acvo.org.uk/covid-19-directory-funding