Charity receives 'vital' Covid-19 funding to help vulnerable people struggling in Mansfield

Nottinghamshire YMCA are set to use the £500 grant awarded by the charity Groundwork UK, through the ‘Tesco Bags of Help Covid-19 Communities Fund’ to aid people living in supported accommodation in Mansfield.

The investment which is designed to support at-risk communities during the coronavirus crisis will be used to provide safe, temporary housing and offer tailored guidance to help homeless individuals in the town work towards independent living.

The funds will be used within six months to buy essential provisions such as food parcels for people in need.

Money will be spent on dried foods that have a long shelf life, alongside household appliances such as microwaves and kettles in an attempt to support the community’s most vulnerable members as the pandemic continues.

The charity say they are keen to make sure ‘no one gets left behind’.

Housing Development Manager Sandra Young, who works at Nottinghamshire YMCA in Mansfield, said: “We are truly grateful for the impact this funding will have upon our residents and, as they say at Tesco, every little helps!

“Rebuilding your life after homelessness can be a complex and difficult road to navigate at the best of times, but the pandemic and particularly social distancing has placed enormous extra strain on our residents’ mental health, finances and general sense of wellbeing.

“When you are not always sure where your next meal is coming from, funding such as this helps to ensure our residents have enough hot food to feel valued during an extremely challenging time.

"Social distancing has been a particular challenge as our hostels feature shared kitchens, so being able to increase the number of kettles and microwaves will significantly reduce the amount of physical encounters residents will need to experience and keep them safer during this pandemic.

“The biggest thank you to Tesco Bags of Help and Groundwork UK for your incredible and perfectly timed support!”

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