CHESHIRE’S Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane has awarded £3,000 to Age UK to support elderly people in Cheshire through the pandemic.
Age UK are dedicated to tackling loneliness and social isolation and they have developed and evolved a range of different services to combat this during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding will allow the charity to provide a range of services to vulnerable people across the county to support them through the Coronavirus crisis including delivering food and medication, offering a telephone befriending and advice service to those living alone and signposting to other relevant local services.
PCC David Keane has awarded a total of £3,000 to the Cheshire, Cheshire East, and Mid-Mersey branches of the charity. The funding has come from his Safer Communities Fund which reinvests money taken from criminals back into the local community under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The Commissioner is awarding a £1,000 grant each day to local community organisations to help them support people through the Coronavirus pandemic.
He said: “The community response to the Coronavirus pandemic has been phenomenal with communities across Cheshire rallying round to support their neighbours.
“I am also impressed how organisations like Age UK have efficiently and effectively adapted to ensure they can still deliver a vital service to vulnerable people despite the changes to our daily lives.
“I’m pleased to able to support our community organisations through my Safer Communities Fund to empower local people and volunteers to really make a difference at this unprecedented time.”
Mark Lunney, chief executive of Age UK Mid Mersey said: “Locally our Age UKs are committed to helping our older and most vulnerable communities across Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.
“For some getting a friendly call, reassurance, help or advice is vital. For others, help with occasional shopping or errands and an emergency food parcel can be such a tremendous help if they are shielding or alone at home.
“Together, Age UKs Mid Mersey, Cheshire and Cheshire East can achieve much more by combining our resources with the help of this collaboration and grant funding from the police and crime commissioner”.
To find out more about how you can apply for a Safer Communities Fund Express Grant please visit: https://www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/what-i-do/making-cheshire-safer/safer-communities-fund/
