Council cash boost for community groups

After only two weeks from being set up, Ashford Borough Council has already awarded £16,500 worth of emergency grants to 12 not-for-profit groups based in the borough who need resilience help, or funding to enable them to support the people in the borough who need it the most at this critical time.

Recipients include:

Ashford Volunteer Centre, who have received a £3,000 support grant towards funding core costs and activities;
Tenterden Social Hub, who have received £2,500 to help fund their overheads so they can continue to provide core services such as meals on wheels and community transport;
Pilgrims Hospices, who have received £3,000 to enable them to provide extra beds in the Ashford hospice, as well as cover some of the losses from their planned fundraising activities in the borough.

In receipt of the smaller project grant funds are organisations such as The Hygiene Bank who are providing basic essential hygiene products, including soap toothpaste, nappies, shampoo, detergent and sanitary products to the most vulnerable individuals and families in communities throughout the Ashford. Also benefitting is a new group of volunteers in Ashford called Coronavirus Community Care Ashford who are helping to collect prescriptions and home delivery shopping to our residents, as well as befriending and providing company to lonely people over the phone.

Rachel Plumb, at The Hygiene Bank, said: “We are delighted to have been able to receive funds through this new scheme. Reaching the most vulnerable members of our community has never been more important. This grant enables us to ensure that those living in poverty have access to the basics and are able to have a dignified life, critical at these most troubling times.”

In response to receiving the council grant, Kate Duddell, Fundraising Manager at Pilgrims Hospices, said: “Thank you ever so much for your wonderful gift. This will help Pilgrims to support end-of-life care during these challenging times. I cannot thank you enough for your ongoing and incredible support. This will go a long way to helping us care for those that need us and a patient’s care at one of our inpatient units for 24 hours is £800. The council’s ongoing support is very much appreciated.”

Beth Peal, Chief Executive Officer at Ashford Volunteer Centre, said: “This is an excellent scheme. Funding such as this makes so much difference to both larger and smaller community groups at this time. Here at the centre, we were thankful for the intervention by the council and are pleased it has taken steps to join forces with the voluntary sector. We are glad we can continue to provide support to those who need it most.”

Cllr Matthew Forest, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Tourism and Leisure at Ashford Borough Council, said: “This scheme is a lifeline for the essential groups that bind our communities together. Ashford has been quick to recognise that without additional funding many of these wonderful organisations could struggle to deliver their vital services during this outbreak. The types of work that the successful groups are doing all play their part in helping people through these troubled times. This funding provides more certainty for them during a challenging period and we are proud to be able to help them.”

This is a rolling scheme, administered by Ashford Borough Council, and more eligible local groups will be awarded more funds in the coming weeks. The scheme was set up as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the council understanding the potentially devastating effect it could have had on our most valued groups and organisations in the community. The funding scheme remains open and there are two types of grant available to local community groups and organisations:

Project Grant – Up to £200 to support a project or service that directly supports Ashford borough residents due to the Coronavirus. A grant can include the purchase of goods or equipment or volunteer expenses
Support Grant – Up to £3,000 to support a local organisation’s resilience (including survival due to closure and loss of income and to aid organisational change to support COVID-19). Grants can be spent on any of your organisation’s costs including core costs and overheads

For more information on this grant fund, or other schemes available locally, please visit: https://www.ashford.gov.uk/your-community/emergency-planning/health-and-pandemics/coronavirus-covid-19/ashford-coronavirus-community-fund/apply-for-ashford-coronavirus-community-fund/

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