In May, the team at Bridgepoint created a £3 million Hardship Fund (largely donated by their directors, partners and staff) to help communities affected by Covid 19.

We were fortunate enough to receive a £20,000 grant to help people going through tough times as a result of Covid. So, as well as the ‘life’ we help each week, behind the scenes we’ve been able to help hundreds more people over the past couple of months.

So far, we have:

• Bought clothing and bedding for 20 women escaping domestic violence during lockdown, via IKWRO.
• Helped Little Village and Sufra NW London to provide nappies, baby food, toiletries and dried goods to hundreds of families who are struggling as a result of the pandemic.
• Provided 8 computers to help vulnerable children unable to take part in lessons due to lockdown.
• Provided a cooker and carpet to an elderly man who had been released from hospital into temporary accommodation with no cooking facilities and no flooring.
• Bought a computer, games and activities for a family with a seriously ill child who have to remain isolated.
• Helped 60 families who have a child with a disability to have a short break, via Sam's Haven. The Covid pandemic meant that this small charity would have been left unable to pay their site fees for the coming year, leaving dozens of families without any respite.
• Helped to fit out a portacabin with storage furniture and equipment, to enable Ripon Community Link to meet the social distancing requirements so they could continue their amazing work. They support 55 adults and young people with learning disabilities to live independently.

And we are planning to do a lot more. Thank you so much to the team at Bridgepoint for enabling us to do all of this. It has been wonderful to be able to able to offer some support and kindness to so many people during their darkest times.