Nearly £300,000 dished out to Northampton charities for food aid and befriending services

Northamptonshire Community Foundation has given out more than £290,000 in just the last few weeks alone to provide crucial frontline support to vulnerable members of communities who are self- isolating due to the coronavirus.

Projects that have been funded include food aid, essential shopping and delivery services, support for homeless people housed in temporary accommodation, online advice and telephone befriending services, care packages and mental health counselling.

Mary Hollands, from Northamptonshire Community Foundation, said: “It’s been truly overwhelming to see the incredible generosity of so many people in the last month.

"From businesses match-funding their employees fundraising efforts to families getting involved the 2.6 challenge, everyone has really got behind our appeal.

"Your support means we can stand with the amazing groups and organisations supporting the most vulnerable in our society during this crisis and for that, we are truly grateful.”

Spring Charity, in Spring Boroughs, has received a £2,531.81 grant, which will be used to provide care and activity packs for vulnerable families on a low income while Live at Home Northampton, in Park Avenue, was gifted £2,000, which will be used to provide activity packs, shopping and befriending services for vulnerable people self-isolating without support networks.

Sue Willet from Live at Home Northampton said the money is paying for lifeline services, including sending out 250 newsletters to their members.

"As part of this we will be using the grant towards volunteer expenses incurred for things like travel to collect shopping or prescriptions for members who are in need," she said.

"During the lockdown staff have been contacting all of our members and offering telephone befriending in place of our regular befriending service, and also putting members in contact with friends they would usually meet up with at activities or events so they can provide support to each other.

"We are currently providing around 1,000 hours of telephone befriending each week, so any additional telephone costs will also be met by this grant."

The Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund is just one of four pandemic-specific grants that's been launched by the foundation - others include, Food 4 Heroes, the Lieutenancy Emergency Fund and NCF General Fund.