Heart of England Community Foundation launches new fund to help community work.
The West Midlands and Warwickshire’s leading grant-giving charity, , has launched a new fund, specifically for Edgbaston and Northfield. The Emergency Assistance Food and Essential Supplies Grant has been funded through Birmingham City Council and the Foundation has partnered with Gateway Family Services, Age UK and Northfield Community Partnership, to help the area’s projects weather COVID-19 and continue their life-saving local provisions.
The fund – which is now open for applications – will be awarding grants to the community organisations within Edgbaston and Northfield that are equipping the area with social support, food banks, essential supplies, and advice and guidance. Groups 
Tina Costello, Chief Executive at Heart of England Community Foundation, comments: “Here at Heart of England, we are so pleased to be working with the council and our fellow charitable organisations to facilitate this fund, which will directly benefit key communities within Birmingham. The work these grassroots organisations have carried out in the area during the last year has been a constant in an otherwise unpredictable time, and it’s essential that there is further support available so that they can continue this.”
This latest fund adds to the Foundation’s continued offering in the West Midlands and Warwickshire, which has seen over £5.5 million awarded in the last twelve months alone. Now setting its sights on 2021, Heart of England has renewed its commitment to helping the region’s organisations to battle coronavirus, as well as the pre-existing social issues that the region faces, with a pledge to help positively impact one million local lives.
“After a tremendous year of grant-giving, the Foundation is eager to support yet another one million lives across our region. We are so lucky to work with an array of amazing donors, all of which are as passionate about making a change to our local communities as we are. Without their ongoing support, we would be unable to help all of these wonderful organisations who are making a real difference, so I know I speak on behalf of both the Heart of England team and the causes we’ve helped, when I say we cannot thank them enough,” Tina concludes.
Find out more about the Emergency Assistance Food and Essential Supplies Grant and how you can apply here. Take a look at the Foundation’s pledge to support one million local lives and the donors who are helping to make it happen here.