The Heathrow Community Trust (HCT) is granting £95,000 in rapid emergency funding for local community groups responding to COVID-19. Funding from HCT reserves – generated by fundraising efforts from Heathrow colleagues in 2019 – will be used to support projects including transitioning support services online and equipping the elderly with technology to help stay connected with friends and family.
Support will be issued to organisations who have a current active HCT-funded project and are providing vital care to the most vulnerable. Round 1 funding has been deployed to the following projects:
- Thames Hospice, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire – £5,000 to fund emergency PPE equipment for an emergency isolation ward treating COVID-19 patients.
- The Manor Friends Care Home, Windsor – £2,050 for the purchase of android tables for use by elderly patients to communicate with relatives and loved ones.
- Business Education Events, Ealing £960.00 to help purchase new computers and equipment to develop online programmes for young people stuck at home.
- The Baby Bank, Berkshire and surrounds – £2,500 to purchase care essentials including nappies, formula, baby food and wipes.
- East to West, Runnymede – £2,500 to provide care and support for vulnerable children, young people and families via phone and online.
- Education & Skills Development Group, Southall – £3,000 to support elderly and isolated members of the community such as Somali refugees, and other asylum seekers.
- Our Lady of Sorrows and St Bridget of Sweden, Isleworth – £2,500 to provide help, advice and emotional support via telephone, conference calls, social media briefings; including support for those with loved ones in hospital and those needing funeral arrangements.
- Vineyard Community Centre, Richmond – £2,500 to deliver food parcels to vulnerable people in their homes.
- Beat Routes, Slough – £1,000 to move music workshops for young people to online.
- Engineering Development Trust, across all nine boroughs neighbouring Heathrow – £2,500 for developing STEM engagement activities for use in schools for children of key workers, and online for home schooling.
Commenting on the release of funding support, Director of the Heathrow Community Trust Beccy Bowden, said: “This funding is providing much-needed support to our neighbouring community groups who are working tirelessly to keep local people safe and healthy. The only way to get through this challenging time is by maintaining our strong community spirit and offering as much support as we can to one another. I am incredibly proud of the fundraising efforts of employees of Heathrow and Team Heathrow companies which have meant that when support is most needed, the Trust has been able to move incredibly quickly to release emergency funding.”
Thanking the HCT, Thames Hospice Fundraiser Frances Greany, said: “We really appreciate the Trust’s support at this very difficult time. It will make such a difference to our doctors and nurses as they support patients in the coming weeks and months.”
Manor Friends Care Home Treasurer Sue Litton, said: “An immense thank you to the review panel for granting us the funds. We’ve experienced a greatly increased number of phone calls coming from relatives anxious to speak with their loved ones. This tied up the phone lines significantly and limited staff’s ability to attend to essential care matters. Having the android tablets means multiple contact can be made simultaneously, free up the main phone lines for administrative calls and ease up demand on staff for non-care tasks.”
