Council Supports Community Groups throughout the Pandemic
Ashfield District Council has provided grant funding to over 45 organisations across the District throughout the pandemic.
Over £100k has been distributed to over 45 groups and organisations by the Council to help support residents in need during the past 12 months. This includes grants to local food banks, providing a buddy service to help vulnerable residents with shopping and medication delivery as well as offering advice to those suffering financially due to the pandemic.
Money from the Ashfield District Council grant schemes and Nottinghamshire County Council grant funding has seen money go to a number of local organisations including: Ashfield Citizens Advice, Our Centre, Under 1 Roof, Let’s All Eat Foodbank and Charity without Borders.
Cllr Kier Barsby, Cabinet Member for Health & Leisure said:
“It is fantastic that the Council has been able to support so many local community organisations over the past 12 months. These organisations are the backbone to our communities and during the pandemic they have been a lifeline to many across the District.
“Grant funding the Council issues allows organisations, groups and volunteers to continue their amazing work. Whether it be support with food and shopping, housing and financial advice or providing welfare calls, this is vital support needed within our communities.”
Some of the people helped by the grants includes:
Our Centre, Kirkby – received funding to help support their buddy service. The service provided vulnerable residents with weekly calls, shopping services, delivering medication, posting mail and liaising with family members who live out of area and were anxious about their vulnerable relatives plus much more. They have been able to provide a vital service to vulnerable residents, alleviating much of the worry that came from lockdown. 257 people have benefited directly from the grant.
West Hucknall Baptist Church Foodbank – the foodbank, which runs from Under One Roof, has seen unprecedented levels of demand for food from individuals and families referred by a variety of support workers and agencies. Due to the grant received they have been able to meet these demands and provide food parcels since the start of the first lockdown in March 2020. 160 people have benefitted from the grant.
Ashfield Citizens Advice – offering help and advice on debt, housing, benefits, employment, energy and much more, Ashfield Citizens Advice has seen an increase in contacts since the start of the pandemic. A large number of residents have contacted them for advice on furlough and redundancy, with many people finding themselves out of work for the first time. Housing and debt advice have also formed a large part of their work since the start of lockdown. The funding they have received has enabled them to continue to offer advice to residents across the District.
Cllr Barsby continues:
“Residents have found themselves in situations they have never been in before. Whether they need advice on debt or help feeding their families, the grant funding has meant that some of the most vulnerable in our Districts have received the help and support they need. These organisations do a fantastic job and I am proud that grants provided by the Council can help them continue in their amazing work.”
