Applications welcome for corona virus relief funds

Friday 03 April 2020

The Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands has released additional funds, meaning more than £250,000 is available immediately to help any covid-19 related charitable relief activities while the same amount has been gifted to groups already.

At a meeting of the board of Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands (LBFCI) last week, the Trustees agreed grants to local charities totalling £257,980.

The board also agreed a series of measures to support charities in most need as a result of covid-19, including making available a further £250,000.

These 'covid-19 support funds are available now' and the LBFCI has also removed the deadline of the next application round, so any group meeting the Foundation's criteria can apply now. 

If approved, funding will be fast tracked and available within one to two weeks.

Charities wanting to apply can discuss their needs with Executive Director Jo Le Poidevin on 01481 706360 or visit lloydsbankfoundationci.org.uk to find out more and to apply online.

Pictured: Katie Le Quesne, Chair of the Lloyds Bank Charitable Foundation. 

The following changes have been made to LBFCI funding and monitoring procedures to provide urgent assistance to local charities at this time:

• Easing of the criteria to fund charities for three years then require them to have a one-year break. If charities have had three years continuous funding, they are able to re-apply with immediate effect.
• Removal of 2020 application deadlines, with applications being invited for submission immediately for prompt review, funding approval and release of funds.
• Flexibility applied to how existing grand funds are being deployed, recognising that some activities have been paused, others increased significantly, and new ways of delivering services and support implemented to cater for unprecedented demand.

Making the announcement, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands Chairman Katie Le Quesne said: "We are committed to helping those in greatest need.  Releasing new funds and altering our application process will help ensure urgent monies can be released to eligible small and large local charities at short notice.

"We are also working with other funding bodies on the Islands to provide a coordinated response at this critical time. We are ready and able to support the Governments of Jersey and Guernsey to ensure charitable packages are deployed to those in most need in the most efficient and effective way. As an independent, expert and long-established grant-maker, we are well placed to assess and process funding applications, and we offer our services to our Islands’ communities at this critical time."

The grants approved by the Foundation last week were to the following charities. LBFCI is working with each charity to ensure flexibility regarding their application of their grants, recognising that many of activities are changing to adhere to Covid-19 measures: 

Autism Guernsey £34,932 towards salary of 80% of full time Support Manager over one year.

Guernsey Bereavement Service £60,000 towards salary of the Manager over two years

Relate Guernsey £20,000 towards operating costs over one year

Trauma Recovery Centre (Guernsey) £20,000 towards the salary of the Parenting Worker and Therapist / Centre Lead over one year

Brightly (Jersey) £24,368 towards salary of the Coordinator for one year

Caritas Jersey £22,000 towards cost of Social Inclusion Team Leader and project costs over one year

Grace Trust Jersey £39,405 towards the salary of the General Manager over one year

Words and Numbers Matter Jersey £37,275 towards the salary of the full-time member of staff over one year

The Foundation continues to liaise regularly with other Island funders to ensure a coordinated approach to funding support. 

Pictured top: Lloyds Bank in St Peter Port.