Council provides further emergency funding to charities and community organisations

A total of six organisations from across the borough have received assistance after applying to the Havering Funding Programme, a fund to help charities and voluntary organisations meet the rapidly changing needs of their communities in the wake of the Covid 19 crisis, and prepare for recovery once the pandemic is over.

This represents a total so far of £53,350 in grants made to local organisations.

The Havering Funding Programme is a partnership between Havering Council, community network, Havering Compact, and seed funding organisation for the non-profit sector, The Fore.

The fund enables smaller charities and constituted charities or community groups to apply for grants of up to £5,000 of emergency funding.

All applications were considered by the Havering Funding Programme panel and assessed on how each organisation is helping disadvantaged and underrepresented communities across the borough to support their response to the crisis.

The six successful applicants

• Addup, which provides support for children with ADHD and their families; volunteer and community action network.
• Havering Volunteer Centre, who help connect volunteers with the organisations that need them.
• Havering Women’s Aid, which provides specialist assistance to male and female victims of domestic abuse. 
• Rainham Foodbank, who work to combat poverty and hunger and provide nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people in need.
• Your Gym Fitness, a not-for-profit community-run gym that supports young people and local charities in the area.
• Bedrock Hospital Radio, a community radio service connecting family and friends in Queens, King George and Goodmayes hospitals. 

The funds will help these organisations to develop and adapt services through virtual or remote methods, support with running costs, and help sustain services disrupted by Coronavirus.

Extra cash to support the Funding Programme is being raised through the Havering Heroes SpaceHive Community Response Crowdfunding Campaign.

So far, the campaign has raised £6,941 between 131 backers.

All funds will go towards boosting the scale of the Havering Funding Programme and making sure that more emergency grants are available to charities and voluntary organisations who need them.

The campaign has 19 days left to reach its £10,800 target, which will provide two additional charities with emergency funding of £5,000 to reach thousands of people in need.

Councillor Damian White, Leader of Havering Council, said:  

”I continue to be humbled by the high levels of kindness and generosity of our Havering residents in helping their neighbours, and the most vulnerable in our community. This money is a lifeline to ensure that people can continue to access the help they need during these difficult times. 

“My personal thanks go out to everyone who has donated to our Havering Heroes crowdfunding campaign to provide extra support, particularly the Harold Hill Running Club, whose members completed a 920km/552 mile relay the past weekend to raise over £480 for the campaign.”

Shiela Keeling, Chief Executive of Addup is “delighted to have been successful” and said: 

“The children and young people of Addup are benefiting by receiving two to one online support with strategies, schoolwork and being able to offload their concerns with their Keyworkers. This funding has taken the pressure off our small charity knowing we can continue to offer services to our vulnerable families.”

Vicki Thomas, CEO of Havering Women’s Aid said: 

“Havering Women’s Aid are delighted to be awarded £5k from The Fore to help our service during the pandemic.  These Funds will enable us to provide extra support and emergency help to victims of domestic abuse living in Havering.”

Chris Deighton, Trustee of Bedrock Radio said: 

“I want to say how delighted that not only the members of Bedrock Radio are for receiving funds from the Havering Fund programme but more importantly the patients who will be able to continue listening to the content that we provide which many find extremely therapeutic. 

“Since we are unable to do our usual fundraising activities the station would have had no income which may have put our future in doubt. 

“On a basic day to day level the money means that we can continue paying our bills such as broadcasting licences and broadband and also pay for the mobile phone app that we had started upgrading before the Covid 19 crisis started and through which many of our patients rely on to listen to us. 

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Havering Funding Programme for all of its help.”

The Council continues to support and work with charities across the borough, including Havering Mind to provide Trauma and Bereavement counselling to those affected by Covid 19, as well as with Tapestry to launch a new Care Call Service and to expand their Befriending Phone Service for isolated and vulnerable residents.

Local small charities, not-for-profit organisations or social enterprises can apply for a grant by sending their details to info@thefore.org and they will send out a short registration form to complete and return.

If you are a Havering resident and would like to make a donation to support our most vulnerable residents, visit the SpaceHive website.