Grants of up to £250,000 will be handed out to small and medium sized charities to help them survive Covid-19
A new £10m charity survival fund has been launched by two philanthropists.
Julia and Hans Rausing, who are behind the famous Tetra Pak brand, have pledged the mammoth fund to support small and medium-sized charities across the UK.
The aim of the fund is to provide core funding to help charities overcome the impact of Covid-19, offsetting lost income.
The couple said they had been struck by the challenges organisations face in continuing to provide support during and after Covid-19.
A statement from the Rausings said: “The last few months have proven very difficult for individuals and organisations across the country, and in particular for charities who have seen their regular sources of funding dry up.
“The Charity Survival Fund is designed to provide financial aid for many small and medium sized charities that are facing financial hardship. Their work is needed now more than ever, and we hope this new fund helps bridge the financial gap until usual sources of income return to the sector.”
This is the first time The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust will be open to accepting funding applications from charities.
The Charity Survival Fund aims to reach charities across the UK whose annual income is below £5 million. Successful applicants will be charities that need financial aid to support the costs of existing programmes and their day to day work, rather than for expansionary purposes or to fund capital projects.
The size of the grants on offer range from £1,000 to £250,000, with the aim of supporting approximately 200 charities across the country. There is a particular interest in receiving applications from charities not previously funded by the trust.
The deadline for application submissions is 27 July, with a formal announcement of the charities who have been awarded funds to be made in September.
Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, Julia and Hans Rausing have given £16.5 million of emergency donations to charities and organisations across the UK who are dealing with the impact of Covid-19 on their communities. In total, over 50 charities, all helping frontline workers and the most vulnerable in society, have been supported. This includes charities such as Fareshare, who are providing meals to vulnerable people across the UK, and a £5 million donation to the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 appeal.
More information can be found on the trust’s website.
