Coronavirus: Sussex Crisis Fund raises more than £500k

The Sussex Crisis Fund was set up by the Sussex Community Foundation to support people suffering as a result of the virus outbreak and the lockdown.

The Argus Appeal and American Express donated £50,000 each to kickstart the funding, and the campaign has raised more than £500,000 in just three weeks.

The first 14 grants from the fund, totalling £60,000, have been paid to groups working hard to support communities during the crisis.

Caroline Henderson is the coordinator of the Food and Friendship charity in Hove which normally provides a lunch club for older people twice a week at Hove Methodist Church.

Caroline Henderson and volunteer Anna Schwartz cooking meals for delivery at Food and Friendship in Hove

Caroline said the £5,000 grant from the Sussex Crisis Fund has been a “weight off her shoulders” after the charity had to adapt to become a delivery service.

She said: “We’re now providing a hot meal to about 120 isolated and vulnerable people every Tuesday and Thursday.

“We’ve lost a huge amount of our income as we’re not charging anything for our meals anymore.

“The crisis fund has been so brilliant – I cannot tell you how much.

“The money was in our account within a week. Part of my job is to fundraise and it’s hard to manage that as well as all the logistics of cooking the meals and delivery. It’s been amazing and we’re so grateful.”

Isolated Hollingdean resident George Lewington receiving his meal from Food and Friendship

Grants of £5,000 have also been paid to the The Bevy community pub and the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership (BHFP), who are both providing food deliveries to those in self-isolation across the city.

Jess Crocker, Senior Manager at BHFP said: “The funds we received from the Crisis Fund are going straight into our work to get food to people who are vulnerable or isolated due to the coronavirus.

“We’re grateful for the quick turnaround with this funding which means we can reach even more people in need. The funds support work here at the Food Partnership and by our partners Fareshare Sussex, the Real Junk Food Project and the Bevy who are all delivering food and meals across the city.”

Volunteer Laurie McMillan helping with The Bevy's new meals on wheels service

Helen Jones, who is coordinating the meals on wheels service at The Bevy, said: “The money is great because we’ve really hit the ground running. We need the funds for fuel costs and protective equipment for volunteers.

“In delivering the meals we’re not only making sure people have food in their bellies, but we’re also doing welfare checks so people know they’re cared for.

“At the Bevy we always say we’re more than just a pub and this is really showing it.”

Isolated resident David Ellsey receiving a roast dinner from The Bevy

Time to Talk Befriending, a charity which tackles chronic loneliness in vulnerable elderly people living in East Brighton, also received £5,000.

Founder Emily Kenward said: “Thanks to this funding and the willingness of existing volunteers and partners such as City Coast Church, Hove Park School, Waitrose Hove and Victim Support to collaborate, we’ve been able to swiftly transition from face to face to telephone befriending.

“We have systems in place to provide emergency care packages to older people whose basic needs aren’t being met and we are providing support to help older people access long term food delivery solutions during this time of isolation.

“Knowing there is funding coming in has also helped me personally to breath a sigh of relief while we concentrate our efforts on the front line helping those most in need.”

Volunteer Nicola Heide helping to compile the Time to Talk Befriending charity's food packages

Kevin Richmond, chief executive of the Sussex Community Foundation said: “Our communities need support now to sustain the amazing effort that is being made to address this emergency and support the most vulnerable people.

"We will award grants every week for as long as we have applications coming in and funds available.

“Please give as much or as little as you can spare and we’ll make sure it gets to local people that need it – now.”

To donate to the Sussex Crisis Fund, go to totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund, or call 01273 409440.

To apply for funding, visit sussexgiving.org.uk/apply.