Charities get cash to help cope with COVID-19 impact

A pair of local charitable groups have been given a funding boost to help them cope with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

The latest round of support from the National Lottery’s Community Fund was announced earlier this week, with a total of £7.3 million given out to various good causes across Scotland.

On the list for the region are the Babes in the Wood children’s clothing store, based in Stirling’s Enterprise Park; and social enterprise Coorie Creative, which run specialist workshops and supports people who have gone through trauma.

Babes in the Wood, which supports in-need families with low cost children’s items, were given a £10,000 grant to help them with the running costs of their shop during the pandemic, while Coorie Creative were awarded £6,187 to help keep their operation going for three months.

The April round of funding recognised 141 groups, with a large percentage of the awards going directly to groups supporting communities during Covid-19.

Among some of the other big local winners announced were Clackmannan Development Trust, who netted a bumper £149,972 for it’s work in providing community engagement activities for around 2,500 people.

Play Alloa also received a whopping £149,586 for it’s support of around 100 young people between 12 to 18 years of age through life skills training and recreational activities.

Neil Ritch, the National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland director, said:“In these difficult and unprecedented times, it’s heartening to see the way Scottish communities are coming together to provide each other with support.

“These awards, made possible by National Lottery players, recognise the hugely valuable and important contribution that Scotland’s voluntary and community sector plays in boosting the health, wellbeing and morale of local people.

“Many of them have found innovative ways to keep their communities connected during the current crisis, whilst others will support people in the future when they can physically come back together to make great things happen in their community.”