Coronavirus: Funding army of Peterborough virus volunteers

The fund has allowed community organisations to tackle issues in their community with emergency funding they may not have been able to secure otherwise.

So far across the Peterborough and Fenland areas, a whopping 26 groups have received £122,680.20 in donations.

The groups have been working tirelessly to help vulnerable people by supplying food parcels, technology to isolated groups, online sessions to help with social isolation and promote positive mental health.

The fund has been ‘a huge relief’ to the many community groups it has supported.

Community development officer Katrina D’Souza said: “We are so grateful to our donors, but the fund can only run for as long as people are donating to it.

“We are slowly starting to see a few projects change from crisis support to recovery.

“We’ve gone from groups requiring food parcels, to online projects to combat social isolation.

“The Cambridgeshire Community Foundation has always been focussed on addressing the inequality that exists across Cambridgeshire, which no doubt will be negatively impacted as a result of the virus. We all have a responsibility to support our community!”

When applying, over three quarters of groups had a ‘significant worry over financial stability and fundraising.’

Over half of the groups have also seen a huge increase in need for their services now and anticipate an even bigger need in the near future.

The Cambridgeshire Community Foundation describes itself as a ‘proactive community and philanthropic leader dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of Cambridgeshire’.

It’s mission is to work with organisations and businesses to invest in community programmes by giving grants.

It also sets out to provide leadership and a forum for dialogue on critical community issues.

The foundation set up the Cambridgeshire Coronavirus Community Fund to help local charities and groups with emergency funding to deal with emerging issues affecting older and vulnerable people in local communities as a result of the continuing threat of Covid-19.

The fund is always looking for donations and supporters can give on its JustGiving page at: 
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Coronaviruscommunityfund