On 24 March, We Love Mcr Charity launched the Covid-19 Community Response Fund, with the mission to support the most vulnerable people in Manchester during the pandemic.
Since then, for 100 days We Love Mcr has awarded an average of £7,900 every day in Grants to charities and groups on the frontline. 239 grants have already been awarded to local charities in just 100 days totalling £790,000 in grants awarded.
The Charity dug into its reserves to put £350,000 into the Fund, and has raised a further £623,000 from generous public and corporate donations. But with £790,000 already awarded, and a further £110,000 of vital grants already in the pipeline, there is now just £73,000 left in the Fund.
The We Love Mcr Charity is urgently appealing for more cash to top the Fund up, so their vital work can continue.
Speaking as Chair of the Board of We Love Mcr Charity, the Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Abid Latif Chohan said:
“Manchester is responding to the challenges of Covid-19 with compassion and urgency, as we all pull together. The Community Response Fund has already ensured that thousands of our most vulnerable neighbours have been fed, comforted, supported and protected. There is still so much we can do to address the impacts of Covid-19 in our communities. If you can afford to, please donate to our Response Fund today. We promise every single penny will provide urgent help on the frontline straight away.”
Donations can be made through the charity’s website – www.welovemcrcharity.org
You can text MANCHESTER 10 to 70470 to give £10.
Or to discuss how you can fundraise for the Fund, or to offer a major gift, you can call 07809 284920.
The Response Fund focuses on these 4 key themes, and typically decides on grant applications within just a few days:
- Food Poverty and Distribution
- Positive Engagement for Children and Young People
- Mental Health and Well-Being in Isolation
- Advice and Protection for Vulnerable People
To mark 100 days, We Love Mcr Charity is sharing messages about the differences the Response Fund is making in Manchester. Ten Manchester charities funded through the Response Fund have recorded video messages of support. These include:
Lydia Thurgam at Age Exchange, who says “This grant will help support people living with dementia, reducing isolation and loneliness and improving quality of life and wellbeing. Thank you for enabling us to carry out this vital work.”
Breigenea Welberton at Caritas Morning Star Hostel in Hulme, who says “At the start of Lockdown we were able to give every guest a brand new mattress, duvet, pillow and bedding, plus the confidence that their room was Covid-free. A massive Thank You to everyone at We Love Mcr Charity.”
Sandhya Sharma at Safety4Sisters, who says “All the women we work with are living in dire poverty. We received a grant to support them with vital food and toiletries during Covid-19”.
Jason Tetley at Gtr Mcr Law Centre, who says “We are here to protect people from unfair evictions. Our grant allows us to employ an expert Solicitor who can be on your side for free, to prevent illegal evictions and to give hope to those where it’s desperately needed.”
Hannah Batchelor at Living Stones Educational Trust, who says “We’ve been able to give children games, puzzles, paints and activities. They’ve had so much fun with these in Lockdown.”
Faye Li at LGBT Foundation, who says “With your grant we can support some of the most isolated members of the LGBT community, who have nowhere else to turn.”
Laura Urhobo from Cancer Care Diaspora, who says “A big thankyou to We Love Mcr Charity! We provide healthy cooked meals to BAME families shielding due to cancer. We deliver hot meals regularly to their doorsteps, and put a smile on their faces!”
Claire Begley at Groundwork, who says “Thanks to We Love Mcr, we’ve been able to increase our capacity and support children virtually rather than face-to-face, providing data top-up and mobile devices.”
Rachel Evaroa at Taphouse TV Dinners food charity, who says “You’re the only people who funded our Project! You allowed us to buy a decent oven, saving us hours and hours of time. Thank you so much!”
