London has shown its overwhelming generosity, with almost £900,000 pledged to LCF’s London Communities Coronavirus Appeal. New and long-time friends to LCF, from companies, individual and charitable foundations, have shown their belief in London’s small charities and grassroots organisations to help support the Capital’s most vulnerable people during this crisis. Thank you.
Set up to mobilise essential funds to grassroots charities and community groups working with London’s most vulnerable people, donations will go towards helping these organisations maintain their services and survive the crisis.
Donors include Grosvenor, SGN, Bank of Ireland, Wimbledon Foundation, alongside a number of LCF’s individual donors. Bloomberg has also set up an employee match scheme with LCF.
The Three Guineas Trust, one of the Sainsbury family's charitable trusts, is also supporting our London Communities Coronavirus Appeal with £250,000. A spokesperson for The Three Guineas Trust said:
This donation recognises the vital role of small charities and grassroots organisations in responding to the pandemic.
Donations raised through the Appeal will be distributed alongside donations to the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal, for which LCF is the Capital’s distributor. Together funds will be deployed through one portal, the London Community Response, a collaboration of funders in London, to reduce pressure on already-stretched frontline organisations. Coordinated by London Funders, the London Community Response, gives one easy access point to funding with funders sharing data and insights to ensure funds get to where they are needed the most.
The first wave of funding, made available to apply for on 31 March, focused on supporting urgent needs of organisations – food and essentials.
The second wave of funding from the London Community Response will be launched tomorrow (Thursday 09.04.20). It will continue to respond to crisis and urgent need alongside larger grants for organisations that must now deliver their services differently to reach the people in need.
But that need is great. NCVO, the charity membership organisation, estimates the loss to the sector of £4.3bn. Charities are part of the solution and are working alongside public services to support our most vulnerable. LCF is championing the #EveryDayCounts which is across social media and advocating for the vital role played by charities and community groups. We are hearing from charities supporting vulnerable women and at-risk youth desperately trying to provide outreach services under lock-down. And community groups struggling to access to essential food supplies and volunteers to ensure they can reach elderly people at home. We need our charity sector. Every day counts.
What you can do:
- Direct charities you care about to the funding portal: The London Community Response
- Follow #EveryDayCounts
- Read our Briefing Paper
- Spread the word of the London Appeal
Thank you.
It is important that in an emergency all Londoners stand together to support our communities and the grass-roots charities that do so much to help the most vulnerable in our society.Simon and Lynn Dodds, donors to the appeal
