Through the Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund, we are awarding grants to local charities and community organisations across Tyne & Wear and Northumberland in two stages: response and recovery. In the response phase, we are getting extra money to organisations that we know are supporting older people and other vulnerable groups affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.In the recovery phase, we will fund a wider group of local charities and community organisations whose operations and finances have been affected so they can recover and continue their activities once the outbreak eases.

Here's a quick video update of the story to mid May 2020 featuring some of the groups we have been able to support in the response phase with your help. .

We will work to make sure the fund reaches the communities that need the most support. We are currently contacting local charity umbrella bodies and frontline organisations to see whats needed and how funds can best be spent. From our 30 years plus of grant-making, we know a lot of these organisations and so will quickly be able to assist them. We expect the first wave of funding will go to organisations working with older people who are likely to be most seriously affected by social isolation and illness caused by the virus.