Stockport Council has announced grants of up to £1,000 for community organisations providing essential support during the latest national lockdown.
Grants of £200 to £1000 are available from Stockport Local Fund: Community Support – with the new money aimed at helping those most affected by the pandemic.
Groups that provide assistance to vulnerable people (such as those over 65, in isolation or with medical conditions) may be eligible.
Funding may also be available for organisations that are working with communities directly including children and families affected by school closures, adults on universal credit and people affected by food insecurity.
Stockport Council has said that community support organisations can also apply for food provisions, running costs, equipment, resources, volunteer expenses, emergency supplies, practical support, transport and other necessities.
ADVERTISEMENT
Councillor Amanda Peers, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Neighbourhoods said: “Throughout the pandemic we’ve been working closely with voluntary organisations and grassroots volunteer groups working on the frontline and we thank them for their work supporting the most vulnerable people living in Stockport.
“This new lockdown will increase the demands on these groups, so we have released new funding to support them so that they can continue to help people over the coming weeks and months.
ADVERTISEMENT
“These grants will be available very swiftly, so if you’re supporting vulnerable residents, I encourage you to apply for an award from our fund as soon as possible.”
For more information on how to apply, head over to the Stockport Council website.
Grants will be awarded that meet normal criteria for funding.
News
Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
The Manc -
13th January 2021 
