A Trustee of the Foundation said: “The speed at which the Covid-19 pandemic has spread is something that has taken everyone by surprise, and has turned all of our lives upside down.
“This has inevitably affected some people in our communities more than others, which is why the There With You Fund is such a great idea.”
To help support people in need immediately, as well as after the peak of the pandemic has passed, a funding model has been set up, whereby people can become individual donors, or become a business donor by calling Charity Link’s director of marketing and fundraising, Susan McEniff, on 0116 222 2212.
George Oliver, Editor of the Leicester Mercury and LeicestershireLive, said: “The remarkable generosity of the Randal Charitable Foundation means that some of Leicestershire’s most isolated, vulnerable and at-risk people will not be forgotten during coronavirus.
“It also means that those who do not have neighbours or family to look out for them need not be left behind, and that those working within our already stretched public and charity sectors have another tool to help those most in need.
“But this is not the end of the matter. Rather it is merely the beginning. Our goal now is to continue building momentum with this fund to ensure our city and county’s most vulnerable people continue to have a safety net.”
The LeicestershireLive There With You Fund is being administered by Leicester-based Charity Link, which specialises in finding essential funding for people in need. Small grants of up to £300
will be mostly provided in the form of essential items or vouchers to help Leicestershire people through the crisis.
Charity Link will do this by acting on referrals from recognised public and charitable organisations in the county. These are the bodies working directly with individuals and families in need.
The funding model keeps overheads to a minimum while ensuring referrals are acted upon swiftly. All applications are assessed on an individual basis and urgent cases are prioritised for rapid support.
Charity Link has been providing funding for people in need since 1876. It distributes small grants and everyday items that most of us take for granted. These are typically beds, cookers, school uniforms, fridges and food vouchers.
Charity Link’s director of marketing and fundraising, Susan McEniff, added: “We are delighted to be working with LeicestershireLive and the Randal Charitable Foundation, along with the support of the people of Leicestershire to ensure that we are able to meet the need of the most vulnerable people in our communities at this unprecedented time".
