The COVID-19 Response Fund to help support the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector (VCFSE) is once again open for applications, thanks to a partnership between Fylde Council, Wyre Council and Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde CVS.

The maximum award is £5,000 per organisation but a wide range of bids between £300 and £5,000 is encouraged

The partnership is keen to fund projects that:

  • meet the immediate need of Wyre and Fylde residents who are struggling to afford food and essentials due to COVID-19
  • provide advice and information to residents affected by COVID-19 to help them access longer term support they might need, such as benefits, debt advice or employment support
  • provide emotional and mental health support
  • help address social isolation
  • demonstrate how significant numbers of residents most affected by COVID-19 will benefit from these funds and which geographical areas and issues are being addressed

Capital and revenue expenses may include:

  • buying or replacing essential equipment e.g. if a food bank needs a fridge to expand storage capacity or a group need IT equipment to enable their beneficiaries to access on-line support groups
  • supporting running costs for VCFSE activities
  • food, clothing and essential supplies including sanitary products
  • utility, rental and staffing costs

All successful organisations will need to produce an outcomes summary and funding should be spent by 31 March 2021.

What cannot be funded:

  • Projects outside the district boundaries of Wyre and Fylde
  • Any activity that does not assist the community response to the Coronavirus pandemic
  • Statutory activities/requirements that either the Council or another public-sector organisation is responsible for delivering
  • Alcoholic refreshments
  • Projects that specifically benefit private businesses
  • Political activities, lobbying or campaigning
  • Retrospective requests for activities that have already taken place.

 

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.  The application window for this round of funding will close on Monday 1st February.

 

Successful applications so far are listed below; please use the contact details if it is something you may require assistance with:

 

ORGANISATION NAME CONTACT NO. GRANT DETAILS
Streetwise Lancashire Elaine Gregoire 07828 142501 To supply fresh essential nutritional foods and essential sanitary and household necessities to as many families in need as possible.
Hope Church Lytham John Filmer 07592 003501 To provide targeted, practical support to help significantly improve the quality of a children’s environment through the provision of practical items which could be anything from household furniture to bedding
Headway B,F&W Kat Whitemoss 07856 260655

 

Tablet devices for the use of the most vulnerable and isolated members – allowing for joining in with zoom meetings with staff and also their peer group (membership), brain stimulating games and apps, access to apply for benefits etc. online.
St Peter’s Tracy Charnock 01253 344773 Once lockdown finishes, the hall will be opening again for people to:

-engage together socially over free tea and coffee

-centre distributing clothing/bedding/towels

offer access to computers and the internet for job search etc

-receive food parcels

-provide a safe space for toddlers and their carers with provision of educational toys/books/clothing etc.

-be a place that can signpost people to the help they need

 

The hall is a centre of community and is inclusive of all people.

Park View 4U Julie Norman 01253 741955

 

Delivery of a programme called Exploring the Wild Edges – to engage with women who have struggled with their mental wellbeing, social isolation and losing confidence during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The aim is to offer outside sessions around a campfire for groups of women to learn new skills including whittling, campfire cooking, using tools, foraging, trying herbal teas, tree identification, using natural materials to create cordage, ink, jewellery making and more.
Salvation Army Fleetwood Alexandra Foden 07435 075692 Access to an Arabic speaking interpreter and materials to assist with online learning, activities and support for the Syrian Refugee Programme.
Volunteer Centre BF&W Siobhan Tweedale 07554 454579 IT equipment for the Syrian Refugee English as a Second Language Online programme
Home Start BF & W Pat Naylor 01253 728615 Food and essentials, emotional and mental health support, advice and information for families of young children
Just Good Friends Bev Sykes 07557 734233 Guidance to members for use in IT equipment
UR Potential Nina Beavers 07414 035940 Additional digital devices for young people

 

For more information on the COVID Response Fund and to apply, visit: http://www.cvsbwf.org/covidgrants/