Stafford and District

With the coronavirus crisis leaving many communities and customers struggling badly, Severn Trent has moved quickly to release £1m of emergency funds to offer support where it’s needed the most.

Liv Garfield, Severn Trent CEO, said: “Even though we’re out there on the frontline keeping water flowing and taking waste water away, we knew we could do more for our communities by going above and beyond the support we already offer. 

Persimmon Community Champions re giving away up to £2000 each every month – that’s a whopping £64,000 a month available to fund local community initiatives.

From 1st April for the foreseeable future, they want to focus on organisations that support the over-70s - a vulnerable group in our society that we feel need our support at this time.

It’s really simple to apply for a donation. All you need to do is complete the online form, telling them why your group or charity, which works with or supports the over-70s, deserves their donation.

There are no application deadlines which means you can submit an application at any time.​

The funds will be used to support the most vulnerable in communities across the UK during these difficult times. From next week, hundreds of millions of pounds will start benefiting those projects that are at the forefront of the Coronavirus crisis - from supporting food banks, to causes that combat loneliness and isolation, help for the elderly and projects that support health in the community.

There are no application deadlines which means you can submit an application at any time.

We offer grants only for core funding to registered charities with a total annual expenditure of less than £40,000 who are undertaking work that focuses on one of our priority groups:

Low-income families whose children are eligible for free school meals will be offered vouchers, food or meals to make sure they continue receiving this support, even if they are no longer attending school due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Government published guidance for schools giving them the flexibility to provide meals or shop vouchers to the 1.3 million disadvantaged children entitled to free school meals if they are no longer attending school, either due to closures or as a result of self-isolating at home.

These schemes are usually open all year, but tend to run in rounds, and so please make sure you check the individual cut off dates on each scheme. 

In response to the recent escalation of UK Governments Coronavirus strategy and the challenging months ahead we’re likely to face, we’re proud to offer a slimmed-down version of AutonoMe for FREE to vulnerable people such as people with Learning Disabilities, Mental Health needs and Care Leavers and others in the UK.

Provided by Jude Taylor, Director

We understand we have an important role over the coming months in supporting, not only the sector, but everyone around us. Over the past week or so we’ve been thinking really hard about the services we can offer; actions which make sense in a time when nothing else really does. We know we will need to adapt and change this as we go and we’re really keen to hear your feedback.

Initially we have identified the following priority actions:

1.   Supporting people to stay active 

Help slow the spread of COVID-19 by self-reporting your symptoms daily, even if you feel well

The COVID symptom tracker was created by doctors and scientists at King’s College London, Guys and St Thomas’ Hospitals working in partnership with ZOE Global Ltd – a health science company.

Creativity is the focus of Staffordshire Day celebrations and organisers Enjoy Staffordshire are looking to hear from artists, creatives, makers, performers, poets, writers, film makers, musicians and anyone who would like to share or showcase their skills and entertain and inform the public through a schedule of live performances, virtual gallery visits/ exhibits, readings, talks and demonstrations, or interactive workshops that people could get involved in from their living room.