Camden Covid-19 Charities Fund
The last 7 days have been unbelievably difficult for everyone. For those who are unsafe at home, living on little or no income, without homes, with health conditions and older people, this is already an urgent crisis. The good news is that in Camden, these people aren’t alone, charities, social enterprises and community groups are moving mountains to support the most vulnerable.
So Camden Giving have launched an appeal to raise money for those organisations. Camden’s charities are exceptional, but sometimes charities in general are a bit misunderstood. So I want to explain a bit about why we’re asking you to give to local charities at this moment.
Non-profit organisations, particularly small ones are quick to help people. Camden Giving is currently giving funds to 59 charities who do a variety of work supporting people who have the least. Within 48hours, most had ripped up their operating plans, turned their services into safer emergency-focussed operations.
Homeless Shelters have paid rent of people who are about the get evicted after they lost their zero-hour contract jobs.
There are countless groups bagging up food parcels.
Charities are checking on people who aren’t safe to be at home for various reasons and arranging phonecalls for people with existing health conditions
Small community groups are getting printers to parents who now take on the role of “teacher”.
The things that have happened this week have been incredible! But these things costs money and it’s money these charities barely have. Most charities will have gone into their reserves to pay for this, so they are now in the risky situation that if they don’t receive donations or grants soon, they’ll close.
Charities are loosing income. Many charities were already struggling to keep the doors open after a decade of government cuts. More small charities are closing than opening. Over the last decade, the generosity of businesses has been a significant source of income, but as these businesses buckle under pressures themselves, that income disappears.
Charities can’t earn money. Charities have become really good at securing some their running costs by renting rooms, charging people who can afford it for their services. In most cases that’s going to stop for weeks or months, charities don’t have enough ‘spare’ funding to cover that gap.
When this is over, the World will look different and we’ll need charities to move us forward. It will be charities that will support our mental health, help people find jobs, support people who are homeless and rebuild the social connections we’re all stepping away from. By supporting small charities we’re choosing to be part of a community that doesn’t leave anyone behind. This has always been true, but it’s just got very urgent.
There are glimmers of hope. Funders have pledged to be flexible and Camden Council have made working with and supporting charities a priority for this crisis. But this isn’t going to be enough alone. So, if you can support local charities, thank you.