The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced a further £4m for the London Community Response Fund to support community and voluntary organisations affected by the impact of the coronavirus.
The boost to the fund from City Hall will give further support to already-stretched organisations so they can cope with the rising demand for their services. This includes London’s civil society organisations that are co-ordinating work and volunteers across the capital, and equalities groups working to support a range of Londoners, including BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled-led groups disproportionately affected by the coronavirus.
Last month, the Mayor joined City Bridge Trust in donating £1m each to launch the London Community Response Fund – which was established by the City of London Corporation’s charity Bridge House Estates in response to the impact of the coronavirus. London Funders – the network of investors of London’s civil society – are overseeing the London Community Response to support civil society organisations and charities in providing their much-needed services, such as foodbanks and supporting vulnerable Londoners, during a time of rising demand but shrinking resources.
More than 40 funders have since contributed to the response, including £500,000 from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and the total now stands at £16m. It has already supported more than 319 projects and given out more than £1.6m in grants, and the second wave of funding applications is currently open.
Sadiq has also been lobbying Government to do more to support the voluntary and charitable sector to ensure that these organisations can continue to deliver their essential services at a time of rising demands. This includes making financial help available now and extending existing support for charities who are unable to furlough staff because they are helping in the response to the coronavirus.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m pleased to be able to provide a further £4m to the London Community Response Fund to support the invaluable work of our community and voluntary organisations. These groups are showing the very best of our city, as they bring Londoners together to help those who need it the most, including those being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. The rising need for their already-stretched services, after a decade of austerity, combined with the huge demand already shown for the fund, shows just how much these vital organisations need help. I will continue to do what I can to support them and urge the Government to step-up and ensure that they provide the necessary levels of support now and in the future.”
