London’s largest independent funder has handed a £5 million boost to a coronavirus emergency fund – and is urging businesses to dig deep to help good causes facing a ‘perfect storm’ caused by the pandemic.
The cash from City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, brings its total pledge to the London Community Response to £6 million.
However, with demand for grants outstripping funding available, hundreds of charities, community groups and social enterprises could miss out on much-needed money to help them weather the COVID-19 storm without further support from businesses and individuals.
The initiative was launched in March, supported by City Bridge Trust and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and co-ordinated by third sector membership body London Funders.
So far, a total of £23.3 million has been pledged to help charitable, community and social organisations across London, but most of that money has already been allocated, meaning remaining funds could run out soon.
Dhruv Patel, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust Committee, said:
“It is often said that a crisis brings out the best in people, and the response from many public and private sector organisations across London in rising to the challenge posed by COVID-19 has been fantastic to see.
“However, the charities, community groups and social enterprises which are working tirelessly on the frontline of the crisis face a perfect storm of rising demand for their services at a time when they’re facing unprecedented financial pressures due to loss of income.
“While there have been some challenges, businesses in the City and across London who are able to help have responded magnificently, but more money is needed – now more than ever – to ensure charities and other groups can continue their work on the ground supporting communities and vulnerable people.”
The latest major employers to provide funding to the London Community Response are global financial services organisation Macquarie Group, which has given £500,000, and Bloomberg, the global business and financial information and news leader, which has donated £1 million.
