A successful funding programme has been expanded to cover projects that will help communities recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
County Durham-based believe housing has already distributed more than £20,000 of funding to coronavirus related projects. But now the housing association is extending its community funding programme to support recovery from the pandemic.
The new ‘recovery grants’ will follow the same model as the existing community funding programme. Applications for grants of up to £500 are open to community groups, organisations or schools that work in areas covered by believe housing. A simple application process will be maintained to ensure that fast turnaround funding decisions can take place and get work underway.
Recovery grants are intended to support projects that can be delivered within two months and follow current government guidance on coronavirus, such as social distancing advice. Groups that have already received funding from believe housing’s Coronavirus Crisis Fund can apply for an additional recovery grant.
believe housing is keen to hear from community groups in most parts of County Durham, and some neighbouring areas, with projects to keep vulnerable people connected, and to provide help with food at a time when many people are seeing new financial difficulties due to the economic impact of the virus.
believe housing Funding Officer, Damian Pearson, said: “Although we all hope that the peak of the coronavirus pandemic is well behind us, we know that the need to support our communities has not reduced at all.
“These new recovery grants are intended to help community groups meet some of the huge demand that we’re already seeing for support in the rapidly changing world around us.”
