Region’s charities get £ 6m in emergency funding

YORKSHIRE HAS received almost £ 6m in grant funding for charities since the coronavirus outbreak, according to new JPIMedia Data analysis.

According to the 360Giving Covid- 19 Grants Tracker, over £ 123m ( 11,632 grants) in emergency Covid- 19 grants has been awarded to over 9,000 recipients across the UK.

The Yorkshire region had the fifth highest number of grants awarded in the UK at 907, but seventh in the amount given, at £ 5,986,858.

Some £ 1,278,560 of this was awarded to 181 charities in Leeds, the region’s largest local authority area.

But with the looming threat of tougher restrictions, charities are warning that they may not be able to meet demand for their services as finances dwindle.

While the 360Giving Covid- 19 Grants Tracker is not an exhaustive list of all grants charities have received during the pandemic, the data provides a snapshot of how charities have survived the lockdown period.

David Kane, Product Lead at 360Giving, explained: “We know it doesn’t show the full picture – not all local grantmakers have published data about their grants – but it does show the range of projects and charities that continue to help keep their local communities going.”

The multi- million pound grants from the likes of The National Lottery Community Fund and BBC Children in Need have provided essential economic support during the lockdown but as Matt Whittaker, CEO of Pro Bono Economics says, the future looks challenging.

“The combination of economic recession, rising unemployment and the looming tightening of lockdown adds up to a gloomy backdrop for the sector in the run up to Christmas.”

A UK Government spokesperson said charities will continue to benefit from financial support schemes in the upcoming months. “We are providing at pace an unprecedented multibillionpound package of government support for charities. We are working flat out to ensure help reaches those who need it most, with funding being distributed at pace.”