DARTMOOR National Park Authority has launched a Coronavirus Community Support Grant (CCSG) to provide valuable funding to organisations working in communities that have been affected by the pandemic.

The scheme rapidly provides grants of up to £500 to voluntary and community groups to help them tackle the social and economic impacts of the outbreak and help those who are most vulnerable.

So far, the authority has dealt with 12 applications and provided more than £5,000 to support community initiatives such as vegetable boxes for vulnerable people, phone support, local delivery of prescriptions and an online arts platform.

Eligible projects/activities or items include: support for vulnerable persons eg delivery of food and medicines and ‘social’ support for people living alone (eg costs of phone call); project development costs eg printing of leaflets or developing online information; transport related initiatives focused on safe community responses to the pandemic and equipment necessary to support community based responses to the pandemic (eg necessary personal protective equipment).

Applications are accepted from constituted and not-for-private-profit voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector groups and organisations, town/parish councils, charities or businesses, or a combination of such groups working together.

Dartmoor National Park Authority’s chief executive Kevin Bishop said: ‘Coronavirus is having a significant effect on Dartmoor and elsewhere and we know how important it is to help our communities remain resilient and support each other through these incredibly difficult times.

‘The Coronavirus Community Support Grant is aimed at providing financial support to local groups as quickly as possible so they can tackle some of the issues they face safely and in the ways that work best for their communities.’

Groups, small local businesses and individuals without their own separate bank account may also apply but they will need to have the support of a recognised organisation acting on their behalf as guarantor or as the holder of the funding.

If you think your group might qualify for grant funding from this initiative, or if you want to find out more, contact Dartmoor National Park Authority’s community engagement officer Emma Stockley by email [email protected]