We are delighted to announce that W3RT CVS will be managing a new fund for voluntary sector organisations based in Watford or Three Rivers, made available through the respective Councils.

This fund has a total of £95,000 available for Watford based charities and £95,000 available to charities based in Three Rivers. This fund, known as the Covid Community Support Grant, offers grants of upto £7,500 for Community and Voluntary organisations the ability to organisations to ensure they remain viable and sustainable whilst delivering support to residents who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the fund aims to support:

a) Established local charities or community groups that have adopted new ways of working through the Covid-19 crisis to meet the needs of existing service users (including delivering services in new ways).

b) Established local charities that face costs to ensure the resumption of their normal activities (including dealing with backlogs of work or holding open days or staggered resumptions of activities)

c) New or established local groups that have undertaken new work or new projects to meet the needs of prior service users or the wider community (including delivering support to people self-isolating or displaying symptoms).

d) New or established local groups that have developed a new service or activity that can help recover from the Covid-19 crisis.

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said “I’m incredibly proud to be launching this fund along with our friends at Three Rivers. Hertfordshire’s charities have played a really important role during the last 18 months, and have shown great determination during this period. While many traditional methods of funding have been unavailable, they have adapted and gone to extraordinary lengths to provide their vital services.”

Councillor Sarah Nelmes, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, said: "Over the last 18 months we have seen so many voluntary groups step up to support their communities when they needed it the most. We recognise that this has stretched many of their finances, so we are so pleased to have been successful in securing this funding from the Health Protection Board. This grant scheme can help our local groups remain viable and sustainable”

You can find out more about the Charitable Support Grant including the eligibility criteria/guidance notes and the application form here. For any specific questions regarding this fund or to discuss your application, email [email protected] or call 07908 209 908.