Covid-19 Support Fund supports new NET National Partners
The National Emergencies Trust (NET) has announced new partnerships with Age UK, Heads Together and Shelter, who will each receive a share of £12million in Coronavirus Appeal funds ring-fenced to target specific at-risk groups across the UK.
The funds supporting Age UK, Heads Together and Shelter will be drawn from £20million pledged to the Coronavirus Appeal by the Covid-19 Support Fund, created by the insurance and long-term savings industry.
Each partner will receive funding to help groups disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, with a focus on remote services, including helplines and digital services. These have seen significant increases in demand since March, in particular from those seeking support from the charity sector for the first time.
£1.5 million funding provided to Age UK will help support the charity’s national Advice Line, website and telephone friendship services, as well as the services provided by Age Scotland, Age NI, Age Cymru and Age UK’s subsidiary charity The Silver Line Helpline. Older people have been particularly vulnerable during the pandemic, and at the beginning of lockdown calls to Age UK’s Advice Line increased by up to 88%, and the demand for its telephone friendship service increased by 290%.
The NET’s £1.47 million partnership with Shelter will fund 31 new advisers for the charity’s emergency helplines in England and Scotland. It will also help to fund support delivered by Shelter Cymru in Wales, and online advice for Housing Rights in Northern Ireland. Since March, three in five calls to Shelter England’s helpline have been from people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. And in England alone, and estimated 322,000 private renting adults have fallen behind on their rent as a result of the pandemic.
The Heads Together Coalition, which includes mental health charity Mind, will use the NET funding for its remote support offering. This will include Mind’s Infoline and web support – enabling those in need to access the support they need. Funding will also go towards the upcoming Heads Together Campaign, which will encourage people to seek support around their mental health.
Our partners are supporting at-risk groups at the frontline. Many have already seen unprecedented demand for their remote services due to the pandemic and this looks set to continue. Our research shows millions of people expect to seek help from a charity for the first time in the coming year. For these people, being able to turn to a well-known name, seek support close to home and use an anonymous service, such as a helpline or webchat, are priority factors in deciding where to turn to.*
“By helping Age UK, Shelter and Heads Together to increase or expand their vital Helpline and Infoline services, we hope that more people in urgent need will be able to access essential advice and support.”
Gerald Oppenheim, Deputy-Chair of the National Emergencies Trust
Steph Harland, Chief Executive, Age UK
We are enormously grateful to the National Emergencies Trust for their very generous funding. Older people are desperately in need during this challenging time, and the money will help us to keep our essential national Information and Advice and friendship services running, making a huge difference to the lives of so many older people.
“The pandemic is not over yet and its impact and the challenges it has created will continue far into the future. Age UK is determined to carry on being there for the older people who need us most, and more than ever during this financially difficult time we are reliant on wonderful supporters such as the National Emergencies Trust.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive, Mind
As one of the charities part of the Heads Together consortium, we are incredibly grateful to benefit from this funding from the NET. We are facing huge demand for our advice and information about staying well and looking after your mental health, and the money we directly receive will be invested in our Infoline, a vital service for adults struggling with their mental health.
“This is a particularly challenging time for all of us and the pandemic is having a huge impact on our mental health and wellbeing. We know from our recent survey of people during lockdown that two in three adults with an existing mental health problem reported worse mental health. We must continue to be there for everyone who needs us