The global pandemic has made fundraising activity incredibly difficult for charities so the Government established a Coronavirus Community Support fund earlier this year.  I thought you might be interested to hear what this has meant for West Berkshire’s charities – on whom we have relied more than ever and I am eternally grateful to all charities across the constituency for their continuing hard work during this pandemic.

I am so pleased that 10 charities across Newbury have so far received £239,370 from the Fund. These include:

• Young People and Children First (£9,000)
• Eight Bells for Mental Health (£4,170)
• West Berkshire Citizens Advice Bureau (£4,461)
• Berkshire Youth (£9,945)
• Free Legal Advice Group For Domestic Violence (£9,810)
• My Cancer My Choices (£3,914)
• Age Concern Newbury and District (£15,000)
• Newbury Community Resource Centre Ltd (£90,000)
• Corn Exchange (Newbury) Trust (£76,000)
• Time To Talk West Berkshire (£17,070)

I know that all these names will be familiar to you and are among our most important and best-loved local charities. I am delighted that Government money has been spent locally on reaching those who need it most.