Coronavirus / Emergency funding available for local groups and charities
A NATIONAL charity is appealing for Shetland based constituted groups and small charities to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 available to help support those most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Foundation Scotland has distributed over £2.2 million from its new Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund to over 500 groups in Scotland.
The Market House based Shetland Care Attendant Scheme, formerly known as Crossroads, has so far been the only charity in Shetland benefitting from the scheme, and the people running Foundation Shetland are keen to change that.
Last month Shetland Care Attendant Scheme received £1,283 to help the charity purchase essential PPE equipment to ensure that staff and their vulnerable clients are kept safe.
The correct PPE – gloves, aprons, masks, visors, hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial wipes, paper towels and soap – will help ensure that the organisation can continue to provide short breaks for carers in their own homes.
Foundation Scotland’s programme manager Helen Wray said: “In this time of national crisis, it is critical to distribute funds quickly to where they are most urgently needed.
“The Foundation Scotland Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund is offering that emergency funding now; we have a typical turnaround time of 72 hours from application to payment.”
Manager of Shetland Care Attendant Scheme Karen Fraser said Foundation Scotland’s quick decision making and fast turnaround meant that she could purchase the PPE immediately.
“We have been able to keep safely in touch with everyone that we usually support, which has just been so important through the crisis,” she said.
“By having plentiful supplies of PPE for all our staff, we hope it will reassure some of our carers, as it is important for them to have regular breaks.”
Wray added: “Organisations that applied last week have already received essential funds. We are assessing some incredible applications from dedicated organisations that are responding quickly and imaginatively to the challenges of COVID-19.
“We are eager to encourage other local charities and community groups in need to apply so that funds can continue to reach those most in need through this challenging time.”
The charity has designed a quick and simple online application form which can be found at https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/
Foundation Scotland distributes around £12 million annually in charitable funds on behalf of 400 individuals, families, charitable trusts, companies and public bodies.
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