Surrey Coronavirus Response Fund exceeds £1 million
The Surrey Coronavirus Response Fund, created by the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS) to help local charities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, has passed the £1 million mark.
In a statement on Monday (April 27), CFS said that The Fund had reached the "remarkable milestone of £1 million and that over £600,000 of this has already distributed to help struggling charities".
Laura Thurlow, Chief Executive of the CFS, said: “The generosity and response of our community to this crisis has been extraordinary. This milestone is the clearest example yet of what our community is able to do when we come together. Whilst this is definitely good news, the reality is that there are still hundreds of groups who are in need of funding. I am certain this £1 million milestone will inspire those of us in Surrey who can help, to donate now so we can keep on helping and plan for the crucial next stage of support.”
The £1 million figure includes £326,700 from the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal and more than £717,000 in donations from local donors and partners.
CFS has been able to quickly award emergency funding from the fund to 122 community groups reaching more than 350,000 beneficiaries across Surrey.
On a more local level, the Community Fund for Reigate and Banstead (a sub Fund of the Community Foundation for Surrey, which specifically provides grants to charities and good causes operating in Reigate and Banstead), has also received a number of donations from local residents towards its own Coronavirus Support Fund which have so far been used to provide emergency grant funding to the value of £27,500 to local charities in the Borough.
Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate, commented, “The level of donations in support of charitable efforts to address the Coronavirus response across Surrey and in my constituency has been incredible. In these unprecedented times, it is reassuring to see such public generosity to assist the response on a local level. Most importantly, it is extremely welcome news to donors and grant recipients that donated funds can be distributed so rapidly to the front line where they are urgently needed.”
To donate to the Community Fund for Reigate and Banstead Coronavirus Fund click here: https://www.cfsurrey.org.uk/fund/rbf/
To donate to The Surrey Coronavirus Response Fund click here: https://cfsurrey.org.uk/surreycoronavirusresponsefund/