The Northumberland groups given £125,000 to help residents affected by Covid-19

Northumberland County Council has received £125,000 from Bernicia to distribute to support five organisations who are working to help communities through this difficult time.

Each will receive £20,000, they are Adapt North East, North Northumberland Voluntary Forum, Blyth Valley CVA, Leading Link and Real Deal.

The remaining £25,000 will be used to help small organisations and rural communities with things such as food deliveries, shopping cards and other essential services.

Coun Cath Homer, the council’s cabinet member for community and voluntary sector support, said: “This is a phenomenal donation by Bernicia and I want to say a huge thank you to them for their support which has allowed charities, at the heart of this crisis, to react quickly and deliver critical services in our communities.

“Since the start of the outbreak we have been working closely with our community and voluntary sector, launching the Northumberland Communities Together initiative to help co-ordinate the response and get the help to the people who need it the most.

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support of both businesses and individuals for our initiative. They have all pulled together in our county’s time of need.”

The cash is part of The Bernicia Foundation – a £1m charitable fund created by Bernicia to support organisations promoting social and financial inclusion and backing young talent in the North East and is part of a £200,000 donation to local authorities across the region.

John Johnston, Bernicia chief executive, said: “It is so heartening to see the speed with which Northumberland County Council has got our funding to those charities helping people and communities cope with the impact of COVID-19.”

Liz Prudhoe, of Adapt North East said: “This donation has been an incredibly welcome boost to allow us to help people through these unprecedented times.

“Many of the people we are dealing with have never had to access the benefit system before and are finding themselves in exceptional circumstances, so to be able to get them the help they need, quickly, has been invaluable.”

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