Resilience fund is launched to help community groups across Leeds survive the coronavirus crisis

It is being launched by the Leeds Community Foundation which distributes grants, shares advice and uses specialist knowledge to help community projects thrive, and is being backed by the Yorkshire Evening Post.

The Leeds Community Foundation Resilience Fund will support organisations facing challenges around supporting isolated and vulnerable people across Leeds, responding to the

needs of these groups by offering urgent financial support to cover core costs, volunteer expenses, staff costs and transport.

The Foundation is seeking support from both corporate and individual supporters to help fund this project with donations, ensuring that isolated, and fragile communities will be held together during this crisis and community projects will continue to be here to support local people for years to come.

Kate Hainsworth, CEO of Leeds Community Foundation told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “At Leeds Community Foundation we believe the community knows best how to serve their communities. Now more than ever, we need these groups to be resourced to support the vulnerable, the sick and the lonely of Leeds during this national emergency – and beyond, when we all start to rebuild our lives.

"We want to help community organisations immediately and effectively, so will be distributing grants in the coming weeks to organisations already known to us and where we have carried out due diligence, meaning grants can be made as quickly as possible. We will be aiming to open a second round of funding in the coming months when more money is raised so we can put out an open call for applications from the wider sector.

"We know that community groups rely on their trading income from cafes, shops and from fundraising events – all necessarily stopped by public health measures. Others depend on volunteers currently self-isolating.

Until robust plans come forward on how to support these vital organisations, they need to be confident they have the running costs in place to continue to operate so they are able to support our most vulnerable in the months to come”.

Leeds Community Foundation is also working closely with partners including the National Emergency Trust (NET) to ensure the Leeds Community Foundation Resilience Fund complements their national appeal, which will distribute money raised through charitable organisations, including Community Foundations and other national charities. This funding will be in addition to grants awarded through the Resilience Fund.

Laura Collins, editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post added: "These community groups that are fearful over their futures are the very fabric of life in Leeds. They help to knit our communities together by supporting some of the most vulnerable and isolated residents across the city.

"During this national emergency it is more important than ever to safeguard these groups to keep our city connected - without them Leeds would be a much poorer place to live. That's why everyone should play a part in offering their support when they need us most. Please dig deep and help in any way you can."

Factfile

Since it started, Leeds Community Foundation has distributed over £42m and supported hundreds of thousands of people in some of the most deprived communities of Leeds and Bradford.

In 2018/2019, LCF distributed £4.1m in grants across Leeds and Bradford: supported 634 projects and over 59,000 people.