As Barking and Dagenham Giving Week comes to a close, Barking and Dagenham Giving are pleased to announce that the £100,000 Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund, provided by the Lankelly Chase Foundation is now open for applications.

This fund has been designed with the help of members of the community working together virtually under lockdown, to ensure that it is available to all those making a difference during the Covid-19 crisis. It is another clear example of how the local community is made stronger by working and learning together.

The fund aims to support individuals, voluntary and community groups who are responding to a need during the crisis. With grants from £100 to £5,000, the fund is designed to help individuals and groups grow their idea, connect with others, and to make a lasting difference in their community.

Our community always comes together at such difficult times. I am seeing local organisations and individuals working hard to help those who need help and support most, they have been an essential part of the frontline response to the pandemic. I would like to thank the Lankelly Chase Foundation for making this fund available to our borough - I know this will make a big difference to help with those who have been doing such amazing work.

As part of the grant-making process, Barking and Dagenham Giving, are also looking to recruit 15 members of the community to help assess proposals and distribute these grants.

Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, said: “Our community always comes together at such difficult times. I am seeing local organisations and individuals working hard to help those who need help and support most, they have been an essential part of the frontline response to the pandemic. I would like to thank the Lankelly Chase Foundation for making this fund available to our borough - I know this will make a big difference to help with those who have been doing such amazing work.”

Applications for funding and to become an assessor open today and individuals and organisations can apply online here - https://bdgiving.org.uk/covid-19-rapid-response-fund/ 

Applications will close at 5.00pm on 31 July or once all the fund has been spent, whichever happens first.