Northamptonshire food banks and charities can claim share of £750,000 to cope with strain of pandemic

An emergency grant fund has been set up for food banks and charities in Northamptonshire to cope with the strain of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Northamptonshire County Council has been handed £750,000 in funding for projects that help and support people struggling to afford food and other essentials due to Covid-19.

Grants of up to £50,000 - or £75,000 for partnership bids - can be claimed by food banks, cooking clubs, advice groups related to food, soup kitchens, and charities providing household essentials or food shopping and delivery

The money - a total of £771,000 - has been awarded through the 'Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies'.

The funding has been set up as two grants given to the Northampton Hope Centre, and the Daylight Centre in Wellingborough, to support local charities in the West and North of Northamptonshire.

It can also be used to support the extra costs brought on by Covid-19, including the extra costs of recruiting, training and supporting volunteers, increased costs such as telephone calls, rent, gas and electricity or other costs relating to a new site where people can more easily access community support and services.

Charities and groups will need to explain what they intend to spend the money on and how that will benefit vulnerable people in their area.

To apply, write an email including "DEFRA Grant" in the subject and send it to:

North of the County – Daylight Centre - [email protected]

West of the County – Hope Centre - [email protected]