Harpur Trust launches second phase of COVID-19 funding

The Harpur Trust has launched the second phase of COVID-19 funding.

To date they have awarded over £283,000 in the first phase of their Covid-19 funding. Much of this has been spent in partnerships with other funders. The Harpur Trust made grants totalling £85,000 from the Bedfordshire Coronavirus Emergency Fund, working with Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation, The Connolly Foundation, The Steele Trust and others. In addition they have worked with Bedford Educational Association to provide 110 laptops for digitally excluded children in the first lockdown.

The Fund aims to support key local voluntary sector organisations which have been negatively impacted by the pandemic so that they can keep providing vital services or cope with increased demand for their services. It also will enable the development of new services to meet new needs directly arising from Covid-19.

The Harpur Trust intends that this support will give charities working in Bedford Borough the time to think about their next steps in terms of services and funding after an exhausting year. Given its transitional nature the fund will provide support for a maximum of 18 months.

Organisations can apply for grants between £5,000 and £50,000 and they will prioritise organisations providing frontline services to people directly affected by Covid-19. Applications are particularly welcomed where they support people from more disadvantaged backgrounds who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

You can find out more about this funding at https://www.harpurtrust.org.uk/article/498/covid-19-fund