Disaster response
Community foundations act quickly and efficiently in a disaster or crisis, serving as a vital lifeline to community organisations helping those most affected.
Community foundations are perfectly placed to distribute emergency funding when disaster strikes.
Using their extensive connections with local charities, voluntary organisations, local authorities and donors, community foundations can act quickly and efficiently in an emergency.
Cross-sector collaboration is crucial in the emergency phase of a crisis. UKCF knows from its work during the coronavirus pandemic that as much support as possible must be injected into communities early on to build the necessary resilience to recover.
So, what does this look like in practice?
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Community foundations convene local networks when climate crises, like flooding, destroy neighbourhoods and leaves people without shelter.
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Community foundations act quickly in the aftermath of tragic events, such as the awful stabbings in Southport this year (Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside launched an appeal that has since raised over £340,000 for those directly impacted).
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Community foundations provide emergency funding to households experiencing fuel poverty during the winter months, raising millions through local donations to pay for heating, warm spaces, food hubs and mental health support.
Acting in a natural disaster
Natural disasters are may feel rare depending on where you are in the UK. However, due to climate change, floods, storms and heat waves are becoming increasingly common.
Community foundations use their local expertise and connections to get emergency support out quickly. In 2016, following the largest fire in Exeter since World War II, Devon Community Foundation set up the Historic Exeter Fire Appeal which quickly raised over £25,000 to help those affected by the fire's damage.
More recently, Lincolnshire Community Foundation supported Lincoln communities following Storm Babet in October 2023. You can read the report here.
Community support during a financial crisis
Vital voluntary services have been struggling with an increased cost of living on top of pre-existing financial difficulties, while simultaneously helping record levels of people in need of support.
The Communities in Crisis Appeal was created by UKCF in 2023 to help charities and community groups by distributing raised money into the existing regional appeals of community foundations.
Money raised went to food banks, warm spaces, debt advice lines, mental health groups, crisis support charities, community hubs and many other services that local people are still relying on in today's tough financial climate. Read Harry's story, one of thousands of people helped out by winter support from Somerset Community Foundation.
Navigating the coronavirus pandemic
When the Coronavirus pandemic caused national lockdowns in 2020, an unprecedented event of an unknown magnitude gripped the nation.
The most vulnerable in society were hit the hardest and high levels of mental health issues, domestic violence, food insecurity, isolation and financial hardship meant emergency funding needed to get to frontline services fast.
UKCF partnered with the National Emergencies Trust to distribute over £76 million across the whole of the UK, raised by the public, through the Coronavirus Appeal.
Want to help your local area?
There are plenty of ways you can help out your local community. Unbiased advice and support is provided by community foundations for anyone wanting to get involved in community giving, whether you want to give big or small. Simply get in touch to find out more.
UK Community Foundations is a registered charity in England and Wales. Registered company in England and Wales . Registered address: UK Community Foundations, Northgate Business Centre, 38-40 Northgate, Newark, NG24 1EZ. Registered company no. 2651777 | Registered charity no. 1004630. Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved.