As calls to crisis centres experience a 25% spike since the start of lockdown, home is an unsafe space for many. In a bid to help, Women’s Aid charities from across the region have been making new provisions to ensure that they are able to help those who find themselves in this situation during these difficult times.
To help these efforts during lockdown, Heart of England Community Foundation has ramped up its financial support for these charities across the region. Through its Coronavirus Resilience Fund, the Foundation has provided grants to a wealth of charities across all sectors, including multiple Women’s Aid Federations, ensuring that they’re able to support women during the pandemic.
With more people having to stay at home due to the on-going effects of COVID-19, more vulnerable women suffering from domestic abuse are turning to organisations, such as Women’s Aid, to seek guidance and support. However, this is at a time when charities across the country are reporting that they are rapidly losing donations, because of those affected economically by the virus.
As a result, grant-giving charity Heart of England Community Foundation has had to rally to extend its support, ensuring that vital services like this can continue support clients when they need it most. Since launching its Coronavirus Resilience Fund on March 23, the Foundation has awarded more than £450k worth of grants to several women’s charities, including Go-Women! Alliance CIC, Coventry Haven Women’s Aid, and Women Empowering Women, Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid. The charities were awarded grants between £1,500 and £30,000, giving them a chance to continue the on-going support across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Solihull and North Warwickshire.