Preston-based charity receives £144k emergency coronavirus funding

Grateful recipients of the Age Concern Central Lancashire's movie night in package — Grateful recipients of the Age Concern Central Lancashire’s movie night in package

Age Concern Central Lancashire has been awarded £144,000 to help secure its future post-Covid-19.

The special grant came thanks to emergency Government funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund.

The grant will cover the cost of running frontline services put in place by Age Concern Central Lancashire during the pandemic.

Since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown period, the charity based near the city centre and Avenham has brought in a series of measures – such as a dedicated helpline and adapted dementia services – designed to give direct, immediate support to Preston’s older population.

As part of the initiative, food and essential supplies worth more than £50,000 have been sourced and delivered to local people. The charity’s team has made over 6,000 welfare calls to check in on the health and wellbeing of service users.

In total, more than 150 volunteers have made weekly shopping trips, delivered food parcels and provided hours of support over the telephone as part of the charity’s befriending service.

Now, this latest grant will help the charity cover some of its operating costs incurred from stepping in to help older people, while also supporting
the charity to move forward.

Age Concern Central Lancashire volunteer — More than 150 volunteers have supported the charity during the pandemic

Suzanne Carr, CEO at Age Concern Central Lancashire, said: “Like many charities across the country, we were hugely impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. From creating immediate pathways of support for our service users and members of the public, to closing our shops and centres and cancelling fundraising events and activities that, ultimately, allow us to keep going – it has been an incredibly challenging time.

“So, we welcome this funding with open arms as it will enable us to effectively cover the unexpected costs that were incurred during lockdown, meaning the financial impact on the charity isn’t as great as it could otherwise have been, and giving us confidence to plan for the future.”

The grant has been awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund, which created a £200m fund for organisations in England as part of the Government’s financial support package for charities and social enterprises announced in April.

Suzanne added: “As a local charity, we are heavily engrained in our communities and provide essential services to some of the most vulnerable in our society. Many of those contacting us during the lockdown period were living alone and having to shield, meaning our team often provided their only form of communication with the outside world.

“As we ease out of lockdown and move into our ‘new normal’, it’s still important that we maintain these connections with those who need us most, and ensure that we support our region’s older population as best we can.”

For further information, visit the Age Concern Central Lancashire website, or call 01772 552850.

What do you think of Age Concern Central Lancashire receiving this funding? Have you benefitted from the charity’s support during the pandemic? Let us know in the comments.