Two more Sevenoaks voluntary groups get grants from Town Council’s Community Resilience Fund to help those in need during coronavirus crisis

Two more voluntary groups operating in the Sevenoaks area have benefitted from the Town Council’s £30,000 Community Resilience Fund which assists organisations helping the community during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Town Council has agreed a £611 Community Resilience Fund grant to Citizens Advice North and West Kent and a £1,500 grant has been given to The Hygiene Bank for the purchase of essential hygiene products which will be delivered to their charity partners in Sevenoaks Town for distribution to those residents in need.

Following the closure of the face-to-face advice service in line with Covid-19 measures, and the high demand for advice being experienced, the Citizens Advice grant will be used to provide IT specialist support to create remote access to computers for experienced Sevenoaks Town volunteers. This will increase advice giving capacity at this difficult time.

The Community Resilience Fund Grant is in addition to the Sevenoaks Town Council grant to Citizens Advice North and West Kent of £500 in March 2020 to expand its scam awareness programme to Sevenoaks Town.

A spokesperson for Citizens Advice said: “We are so grateful for the continued support of Sevenoaks Town Council in so many ways, and it is so heartening to know that you are supporting our emergency efforts at this time.”

Following the closure of donation/collection points during the Covid-19 crisis, the Town Council agreed the £1,500 grant to The Hygiene Bank for the purchase of essential hygiene products which will be delivered to their charity partners in Sevenoaks for distribution to those residents in need.

Town Council Chief Executive and Town Clerk Linda Larter said: “Those wishing to apply for a grant from the Community Resilience Fund should complete the Sevenoaks Town Council Grant Application Form on its website www.sevenoakstown.gov.uk . Traditionally applications have been reviewed twice a year, however bearing in mind the circumstances applications will now be reviewed as swiftly as possible as and when received.

“It is also noted that applicants may not be able to comply with providing all the information normally required. Applicants are asked to complete as much information as possible and forward to Sevenoaks Town Council for consideration.”