Funds pledged by Manchester Airport’s Community Trust Fund will help 15 organisations across Greater Manchester
A total of £21,714.68 has been allocated to groups for projects supporting communities affected by Covid-19, following a surge in applications to the Trust Fund
Donations follow inspirational effort by furloughed Manchester Airport staff, who have used their free time to help their communities
Hospices, sports clubs and neighbourhood groups are among the 15 organisations bagging Manchester Airport grants to help their Covid-19 relief efforts.
The Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund announced it was welcoming applications from groups supporting communities through the pandemic.
It received scores of bids and trustees have now awarded grants totalling more than £21,000 to a range of organisations within 10 miles of the Airport.
Among the beneficiaries are Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne, which will receive £3,000 to purchase ten new iPads. The gadgets will allow patients to stay in more frequent contact with their friends and families.
Anthony Lord, head of income generation & marketing at Willow Wood Hospice said:
“Manchester Airport’s generous donation will give our patients the opportunity to virtually see and chat to their friends and family as current restrictions mean only two named visitors can call in.
“Tools like this are vital, to allow our patients some normality during these uncertain times. I am sure they and their loved ones as well as staff appreciate the help the Community Trust Fund has given us at Willow Wood Hospice.”
Trafford Veterans, Barnados Wythenshawe, the Church of England Wythenshawe and Ladybarn Community Hub will all be using their donations to buy jigsaws, activity packs and mind games to help people stay entertained through lockdown measures.
Meanwhile others such as Wythenshawe AFC and The Cherry Tree Project in Stockport are putting their money to buy sporting equipment to allow for social distancing when they can re-open.
The full list of beneficiaries can be found below.
The total figure donated stands at £21,714.68, with the largest approved individual application at £3,000.
Andrew Cowan, CEO at Manchester Airport, said: “For more than 20 years, the Community Trust Fund has supported local groups making a real difference across Greater Manchester and northern Cheshire.
“We are proud that it is once again enabling vital support to our neighbouring communities, particularly in these challenging times.”
The Community Trust Fund, which was set up in 1997, usually reviews applications quarterly, but trustees are speeding up the process for the latest applications to ensure the cash reaches affected communities as quickly as possible.
The financial support package from the Community Trust Fund follows a major volunteering campaign, led and organised by furloughed Manchester Airport workers.
The group of airport colleagues offered their time and expertise to support Covid-19 afflicted communities through delivering parcels to food banks, receiving phone calls from those who were self-isolating alone, and providing education packs for pupils unable to go to school.
The Community Trust Fund’s board next meets in October and is already welcoming applications for up to £3,000 from locally-based not-for-profit organisations. Details on how to apply and the full criteria can be found at www.manchesterairport.co.uk/community/working-in-our-community/community-trust-fund.
