Emergency coronavirus appeal raises over £200k in Milton Keynes

More than £100,000 in grants to 32 worthy causes has already been distributed.

Among those to benefit from the initiative by Milton Keynes Community Foundation and Milton Keynes Council are services such as food banks, deliveries to vulnerable people and digital support for the isolated.

They include Aylesbury Vale and Milton Keynes Sexual Assault and Abuse Support Service, Al’s Pals, McIntyre Care, Melting Pot, Milton Keynes Hindu Association, Milton Keynes YMCA, Mind BLMK, Puzzle Centre and Service Six.

The Covid-19 MK Emergency Response Appeal was kickstarted with £50,000 from the council, £100,000 from community foundation fundholders and £55,000 from individual donors in the community. The target is to raise £400,000 by the end of June.

Further funding of £81,000 from the National Emergencies Trust Fund is also available to support grants to groups working at the front line to tackle the Covid-19 emergency and its impact on the communities in Milton Keynes.

Cllr Hannah O’Neill, MK Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “In these extraordinary times it is more important than ever that we come together as a community to help those organisations that are supporting those most in need.

“Milton Keynes Council is proud to be able to contribute to this fund and help ensure that local organisations can continue to operate throughout the crisis and in the future.”

Ian Revell, chief executive of MK Community Foundation, said: “We’ve had tremendous support from our fundholders as well as Milton Keynes residents who’ve given generously.

“We are delighted that such generous giving has meant we are able to give up to 10 grants every week. Our team has been working hard over the last few weeks to make sure that the grants are processed and distributed to help groups continue their efforts on the front line. “We will keep the momentum going to make sure that our communities not only make it through this time of disruption but also recover speedily to come out at the end much more resilient.”

To see the grants provided so far, visit the website.

To donate, visit the website.

Community groups looking to apply for funding should visit the website or call 01908 690276.