Bath charities helping the city cope with the coronavirus crisis are benefiting from a share of more than £400,000 handed out in just a month by the West of England’s community foundation.
Some £413,000 has been given in grants by Quartet since March 23. From a standing start, its Coronavirus Response Fund has helped 83 small, local causes across the region. 
Among the small Bath charities to received vital funding are Southside Family Project Bath, which is offering essential items and mental health support to 100 vulnerable families in Twerton, and Carers Centre in Bath & NE Somerset.
Quartet, which covers Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, launched its Coronavirus Response Fund in response to a massive increase in pleas for financial support from small, grass-roots community organisations.
The coronavirus pandemic is having a devasting impact on these charities as many rely on volunteers who now are in lockdown while others support their services through income from community cafes and charity shops that have been forced to close. The cancellation of all fundraising events for the foreseeable future has made raising funds even harder.
Thanks to hundreds of generous gifts and donations, grants are already helping families on low incomes, homeless people, refugees, isolated older people and many more get through the coronavirus crisis. 
Quartet Community Foundation’s fundraising appeal has received support from hundreds of local people as well as charitable trusts, businesses and philanthropists.
So far more than £800,000 has been raised for the fund, including £275,000 from the National Emergencies Trust. But more money is needed as Quartet is receiving dozens of pleas for financial support every day.
To donate go to: https://quartetcf.org.uk/donate-now/
Charitable causes in Bath and North East Somerset can apply for funding towards activities that are responding to immediate challenges faced within local communities as a result of the continuing threat of coronavirus. For more information visit https://quartetcf.org.uk/grant-programmes/coronavirus-response-fund/
