Bentley Motors and Cheshire Community Foundation have teamed up to provide vital grants for organisations running projects to hep people in Crewe recover from the pandemic.
The one-off grants, which range from £7,800 to £25,000, have been awarded to projects that tackle food poverty, mental health and wellbeing, debt relief and financial education.
More than 5,000 individuals are expected to benefit first hand across the 11 projects funded.
Successful applicants include Motherwell the women’s mental health charity, Pennysmart money advice organisation, and Chance Changing Lives community pantry.
These projects directly involve more than 5,000 people, with an estimated 10,000 further family members due to benefit indirectly.
The fund will support:
Food and operating costs for a community pantry
Food, staffing and fuel for a food bank to deliver food parcels locally for those unable to collect
Food, volunteer and vehicle running costs at a homelessness centre
Counselling services for young women aged 13-18
Grief counselling for people bereaved through Covid-19
Schools based group counselling sessions for children and young people coming out of lockdown
Salary costs, the recruitment of ten new volunteers and IT equipment for local citizen support advisors to meet increased demand
Salary costs and staff training to enhance Mental Health First Aiders
Training volunteer counsellors to enhance support at an LGBT+ charity
Staffing costs and overheads to increase support available for a money advice helpline service
The salary for an additional debt coach in a debt counselling organisation
Dr Astrid Fontaine, Bentley’s Member of the Board for People, Digitalisation and IT, said: “Communities everywhere have been profoundly affected by Covid.
“Our goal in establishing this fund with Cheshire Community Foundation – as part of our wider “Come Back Stronger” – Covid recovery campaign, is to support locally run projects that can make a quick and tangible change to people’s lives in the Crewe area.
“We know many local organisations are themselves struggling with funding issues due to the pandemic, so this additional injection of support enables them to stay focused on delivery at this critical time.
“Crewe has been Bentley’s home for more than 75 years, and our relationship with the town is key to who we are.
“We are very pleased to be able to make this support available at this time.”
Zoe Sheppard, CEO of Cheshire Community Foundation, said: “The whole team at Cheshire Community Foundation is thrilled to support our valued partner Bentley with this grants programme.
“We’re delighted to announce the award of these 11 grants, all of which will have life changing impacts for the people involved.
“The charitable organisations are experts in their field; now they can get on with their work, which is more vital than ever as we come out of the pandemic.
“Bentley’s generosity and commitment to their home town of Crewe is truly inspiring.”
