LCR Cares was launched by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram in partnership with the Community Foundation for Merseyside to raise cash for community groups during the coronavirus epidemic. Tony McDonough reports
A fund set up to provide a cash lifeline for charities and community organisations across the Liverpool city region during the coronavirus crisis has already given out £160,000 in grants.
LCR Cares was launched by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram in partnership with registered charity Community Foundation for Merseyside, with the aim of raising £1m to support local organisations providing vital services to their communities.
At the start of the Easter weekend, the fund stood at almost £500,000. Liverpool-based retail giant Home Bargains has given £50,000, former Liverpool FC defender Jamie Carragher’s 23 Foundation has donated £5,000 and a further £123,250 has come from the National Emergencies Trust.
This has been boosted by scores of smaller donations from individuals and, so far, 19 organisations have secured grants. They include foodbanks and children’s play centres and the grants will help ensure the continuation of the delivery of food and care packages to vulnerable people.
Mr Rotheram said: “We’ve been able to get more than £160,000 out into the community at a time when people need it most so that organisations at the frontline can support the most vulnerable.
“I’m humbled but not surprised by the amazing work these groups are doing in our communities. I’d encourage everyone to give what they can, if they are able, to help continue this work during these tough times.”
Community organisations can apply for grants by clicking here. The 19 recipients of the grants, are:
Liverpool
- £5,00 to Granby Toxteth Development Trust to provide emergency food and health packs to the most vulnerable and elderly in the community.
- £4,687 to The Brain Charity to provide on the phone counselling sessions for vulnerable community members to help reduce the impact of isolation.
- £5,000 to City of Liverpool Football Club to maintain the group’s delivery service to vulnerable and isolated residents.
- £4,920 to Micah Liverpool to support the continuation of the foodbank by covering staff costs for 12 weeks and additional food and essential items.
- £3,700 to Liverpool Homeless Football Club to deliver food parcels, family supplies, feminine hygiene products and offer coaching support via online services.
- £3,489 to Garston Adventure Playground to provide food, essentials and activity packs to people in the community. The activity pack will be so that people are able to join in with online youth club sessions.
- £5,000 to Daisy Inclusive UK to cover revenue lost as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and pay for staff costs to keep the foodbank up and running.
- £5,000 to Womens Health Information & Support Centre (WHISC) to provide support for vulnerable members of the group via the phone to reduce isolation.
- £4,900 to Autism Adventures Training Community Interest Company to provide workshop videos to vulnerable members of the community struggling with isolation.
Sefton
- £5,000 to Galloway’s Society for the Blind to help relieve the loneliness of 389 blind/partially-sighted people in Sefton who use the service regularly.
- £4,500 to Care Merseyside to provide a service for vulnerable people in the community by offering wellbeing videos and telephone calls.
- £5,000 to VENUS to deliver essential food and other items to vulnerable women and families.
St Helens
- £2,500 to Citadel Arts to deliver a virtual programme for vulnerable people in the community.
Wirral
- £4,864 for Wirral Youth Zone to provide sessions for vulnerable people and offer food, hygiene and arts/craft equipment.
- £3,000 to Koala North West (previously known as Home-Start Wirral, to offer support via bespoke telephone and video calls for parents with young children and pregnant women and to deliver food and essentials to those most in need.
- £5,000 to The Local Carers Network to provide an online platform to support families in who have disabled children and offer food packages.
Knowsley
- £5,000 to the Big Help Project for pay for food for its foodbank.
- £5,000 to Tailored Advice Services in Communities to continue delivering advice to existing and new clients over the phone.
- £5,000 to the Apostolic Church to deliver food packages to those in need.