MK Community Foundation have today announced they have distributed £1million to 124 different local charities and community groups through their Covid-19 Response Appeal.
The appeal, launched on the 20th March 2020, saw generous donations from a range of local business and individuals. The contributions enabled the Community Foundation to award vital funding to groups supporting the most vulnerable people in Milton Keynes at such an uncertain time, including the homeless, older people, those with disabilities, people with mental health issues and children living in poverty.
The fund was also started by a £50,000 donation from Milton Keynes Council.
According to a recent survey, 93% of groups that received a grant from the Community Foundation were able to respond to the needs of the community more effectively, whilst 95% agree that they were able to provide better support as a result of the funding they received. On top of this, 71% of groups were able to provide brand new services to support even more local people.
Louisa Hobbs, Operations Manager at MK Food Bank, said “The sudden onset of the pandemic meant there was a huge increase in demand for MK Food Bank’s emergency food support. Immediate, emergency funding from MK Community Foundation was a real lifeline – with initial food costs of up to £50k per month, we were able to meet that demand and get food to anyone who needed it.
One year on, testing and vaccination programmes and financial assistance may have eased the chaos, but the financial impacts of the crisis are still very keenly felt. Since the start of 2021, more people are contacting us for the first time, for many reasons related directly or indirectly to COVID. Ongoing support from the Community Foundation ensures we always have enough food for anyone who needs it, as well as funds for the essential costs to process, store and distribute the parcels.”
Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, said “We are completely blown away by the support of our local community over the past year. Thanks to the generous donations of businesses and individuals, we have been able to ensure the most vulnerable people of Milton Keynes have been supported throughout the pandemic. I am so proud of the team for their incredible efforts to raise and distribute such a substantial amount of money so efficiently. I am thankful for the support of our Trustees and Vice Presidents and I am inspired by the hard work and dedication of our local charities and groups. Thank you times a million.”
You can support Milton Keynes Community Foundation as they continue on their mission for a fairer community and help local charities recover from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Start today, or find out more at www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk
