The City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, City Bridge Trust (CBT), has pledged £1 million to a new emergency support fund to help London’s community and voluntary organisations affected by the impact of the COVID-19.

CBT has joined the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and London Funders a network of investors of London’s civil society to launch the new fund, with an initial £1 million provided by CBT and another £1 million from the Mayor of London.

The emergency scheme, which will be coordinated by London Funders, will be available to charities facing immediate financial pressures and uncertainty because of the coronavirus.

A variety of funders from across London will pool their resources and expertise to help these organisations, many of whom are facing increasing demands for services, higher staff absences, fewer volunteers and lower donations.

Many have small teams and rely on the support of volunteers to help vulnerable Londoners, such as those on low incomes and victims of domestic violence.

A special section of the London.gov.uk website will be created to help link organisations in need of volunteers with individuals wanting to sign up to help.

Dhruv Patel, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust Committee, said:

“We are all living in very challenging times.

“Now more than ever we need to support our communities and provide much needed help and assistance, especially to those that are vulnerable.

“Our voluntary sector is already doing an incredible job in going the extra mile to support those impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

“This funding boost will be vital as the weeks unfold, helping charities provide and adapt vital services for London’s communities.

Full details of the fund and how to apply will be published next week at www.londonfunders.org.uk.

City Bridge Trust is the funding arm of the City of London Corporation’s charity, Bridge House Estates.

It is London’s biggest independent grant giver, making grants of £25 million a year to tackle disadvantage across the capital.

The Trust has awarded around 8,000 grants totalling over £400 million since it first began in 1995. It helps achieve the City Corporation’s aim of changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Londoners.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• A news release from the GLA with a quote from the Mayor of London is available here.

• City Bridge Trust is the funding arm of Bridge House Estates, a Registered Charity, with its primary aim the maintenance and support of five Thames bridges: Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Southwark, Blackfriars and the Millennium footbridge. City Bridge Trust was established in 1995 to make use of funds surplus to bridge requirements and provides grants totalling around £25m per year towards charitable activity benefitting Greater London. The City of London Corporation is the sole trustee of the Bridge House Estates.

• The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

• Full details of the fund and how to apply will be published next week at www.londonfunders.org.uk

• London Funders is a membership network for funders and investors in London’s civil society. For more information visit: www.londonfunders.org.uk

• London Plus brings together civil society organisations across London, including Volunteer Centres and Councils for Voluntary Service. For more information visit www.londonplus.org 

The new section of the London.gov.uk website is being created to link organisation with volunteers and will be available at: www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus-volunteering