UK disaster relief fund raises £12.5m in a week for coronavirus efforts

The UK’s first domestic disaster emergency appeal, launched to coordinate voluntary fundraising for frontline charities helping vulnerable people cope with the social impact of coronavirus, has raised £12.5m in its first week.

The National Emergencies Trust (NET), which was set up in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, said individual donors to its coronavirus fund had so far given about £1m, with the remainder coming from companies and philanthropic foundations.

About £2.5m has been distributed in the last couple of days through a network of 46 regional community foundations covering every part of the UK. They in turn are channelling it to frontline groups in the form of small cash grants.

The initial phase of funding will focus on helping relieve food insecurity, with grants for groups delivering supplies to economically disadvantaged households, as well as organisations working with vulnerable and isolated older and disabled people.

What is Covid-19?

It is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it has come from animals.

What are the symptoms this coronavirus causes?

The virus can cause pneumonia-like symptoms. Those who have fallen ill are reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties.

In the UK, the National Heath Service has defined the symptoms as:

• a high temperature - you feel hot to touch on your chest or back

• a new continuous cough - this means you've started coughing repeatedly

Should I go to the doctor if I have a cough?

Medical advice varies around the world - with many countries imposing travel bans and lockdowns to try and prevent the spread of the virus. In many place people are being told to stay at home rather than visit a doctor of hospital in person. Check with your local authorities.

In the UK, NHS advice is that anyone with symptoms should stay at home for at least 7 days. If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home.

How many people have been affected?

China’s national health commission confirmed human-to-human transmission in January. As of 26 March, more than 500,000 people have been infected in more than 150 countries, according to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

There have been over 23,000 deaths globally. Just over 3,200 of those deaths have occurred in mainland China. Italy has been worst affected, with over 8,200 fatalities. Many of those who have died had underlying health conditions, which the coronavirus complicated.

More than 120,000 people are recorded as having recovered from the coronavirus.

The chair of the NET, Richard Dannatt, said: “It is a fantastic achievement and testament to the generosity of the British public, business and charitable foundations that within a week we managed to raise £13m – and get £2.5m out very quickly to those who need it most.

“Local community foundations are now allocating money to local charities who are best placed to help those in the greatest need. At present it seems as if the delivery of food to the vulnerable and elderly is the highest priority, and those supplies are now flowing.”

Lord Dannatt added: “I would urge everyone to be as generous as possible so we can all work together to relieve as much suffering as possible. This is definitely a moment for us all to pull together.’’

Charity resources have been devastated in recent weeks by the cancellation of fundraising events, from coffee mornings to mass-participation events such as the London Marathon, with an estimated £4bn of expected income wiped out. Volunteer teams have been decimated as older members have been forced to stay at home.

Norfolk Community Foundation said it had received 60 grant applications since Wednesday. It has already sent out £1,000 grants to five local groups, including two delivering food and medical supplies, and one to an autism charity to enable it to install a phone helpline to replace its face-to-face befriending service.

Claire Cullens, the foundation’s chief executive, said distribution through its existing grant channels meant it could get money swiftly to small groups well placed to identify local families in need. “It ensures vital lifeline funding is getting to parish, community or even street level to enable people to help.”

The NET was set up last year to coordinate disaster fundraising responses and provide a trusted channel for people who want to donate but who are unsure how to do so.

The idea for a NET – modelled on the Disasters Emergency Committee that handles the UK charity response to humanitarian disasters overseas – came out of concerns that the massive public fundraising response to Grenfell was badly coordinated with little accountability for the money raised.

Donors to the coronavirus fund so far include the Sainsbury family foundations, which have given more than £3m, and corporations such as the Co-op and BlackRock. Several Premier League footballers are supporting the NET campaign, including Arsenal’s Héctor Bellerin and the Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

• Donations can be made at: www.nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk.