Volunteers’ coronavirus cash boost

27 May 2020 09:52
Published by: Scott Callan

Hundreds of volunteers in Bolon have benefitted from extra financial support from a new grant programme set up specifically to help the most vulnerable through the coronavirus crisis.

The Covid-19 Resilience Fund has provided grants to community groups and charities supporting residents across the borough.

It was set up by Bolton’s Fund - a voluntary sector grants programme delivered in partnership by Bolton Council, NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Bolton at Home and Bolton CVS.

To date, 28 groups have been awarded grants and 388 volunteers supported, which has meant an additional 19,000 extra volunteer hours.

As a result, the Over Hulton Community Group was able to set up a website, which also led to “The Scare Off Corona” Scarecrow Festival raising money for the NHS.

Other groups that have benefitted include Headspace, a mental health charity, which has used its grant to develop software programmes to showcase comedy, plays and music.

The VI Dream Team – a 100-strong volunteer group making scrubs – was able to use the money to help repair sewing machines.

Councillor Nadim Muslim, council executive cabinet member for stronger communities, said: “Although the pandemic has seen everyone face the most challenging of times, it is fantastic that this programme, delivered by partners in Bolton working together, has helped the most vulnerable in our community.

“This is the perfect example of Bolton’s voluntary sector being supported to help those who desperately need it.”

 

Darren Knight, chief executive of Bolton CVS, added: “The Covid-19 response in Bolton supported by so many community groups and organisations has been immense.

“The speed with which we made decisions and processed grants applications through the Bolton’s Fund Covid-19 Resilience Grants meant we could get financial support to those that needed to quickly adapt to provide support to the most vulnerable and isolated people across Bolton.

“I have to say thanks to everyone who has supported the process and most importantly, the community groups and organisations who have worked so hard to make a positive difference with the funding that they’ve received.”

Applications for the fund have now closed. The Bolton's Fund also received a generous £20,000 donation from The Sir James and Lady Scott Trust, formerly based in Bolton, which award a number of grants to locally-based charities each year.

 

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