Agenda item

Report of the Head of Community and Housing Strategy detailing the applications for COVID-19 Relief Grants.

An opportunity had arisen for the Council to be part of a joint bid to Hertfordshire’s Health Protection Board, for money from the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) to enhance the Council’s Community Grants programme and help support capacity within local charitable and voluntary organisations in connection with covid19 infection control and recovery.

 

The Council was successful in a joint bid considered at the Health Protection Board on 25 May 2021. As a result, the Council had been awarded £100,000 to distribute as grant support to local charitable and voluntary organisations, who met the criteria of the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) scheme.

 

Cabinet had agreed that the grants should be made available through the community grant programme and overseen by the Grants Board.

 

Covid-19 Relief Community Grants were limited to a maximum of £10,000 per application.

 

The amount of £40,430 was awarded to five applicants in the first round of funding for this Covid-19 Relief Community Grants.

 

The balance of £59,570 is now available to the Council and would need to be issued by 31 December 2021.

 

The total of £69,809.32 had been applied for in the second and final round of funding for the Covid-19 Relief Community Grant Applications.

 

Forever Young People - £9,900

 

Forever Young People combined multi-sport activities and mentoring. The charity’s programmes supported young people with mental health issues who had displayed self-destructive behaviours and had suffered from social anxiety during Covid-19. These young people were specifically referred to the Charity due to mental health issues via doctors, teachers, the youth services, and the various Council support teams.

 

The charity’s referrals come from the Hatfield Central Ward, which suffered with high deprivation, and various issues amongst young people e.g. issues with gangs, anti-social behaviour, substance misuse etc.  Many people have had challenging home lives and would not otherwise attend multi-sport sessions.

 

The charity had already prepared to restart these sessions, using time during lockdown to get staff and volunteers trained in infection control and had bought the relevant cleaning products, alongside still enforcing the 2m social distancing rule. With these sessions, the charity would adhere to smaller group sizes so as to not cause additional anxieties about meeting in person.

 

Therefore, as part of starting back up face-to-face session, the charity would need to put the right measures in place with the right COVID-19 safe resources, equipment, and staffing.

 

The following points were noted:

 

• Members noted that the application was similar to the previous application the charity submitted.
• Members noted that the charity were asking for money to help re-introduce face to face sessions.
• Members noted that Forever Young were active in Welwyn Hatfield.
• Members noted that the charity were partnering with Mind in Mid Herts in relation to Mental Health.

 

AGREED a grant of £9,819.72.

 

 

Future Living Hertford - £10,000

 

Future Living Hertford was an award winning, registered charity that had actively supported Hertfordshire residents over the past 7 years in a large, fit for purpose building in Hertford.

 

The charity had been financially impacted by the loss of revenue both from grants and donations when they had to close up the building and face to face working due to the pandemic. Further expense was incurred in providing financial support to volunteers working from home in line with government recommendations. The charity’s landlord continued to charge them full commercial rent even when closed. Furthermore, extensive alterations to the building were necessary to ensure secure access entry when the charity reopened with 'no touch' door openers, video cameras and no touch facilities in WC's together with the purchase of extensive cleaning equipment. Grants for the charity’s work became less available in light of favour being given to the necessary REFUGE accommodation for victims of Domestic Abuse during the pandemic. The charity had now opened again for face to face working.

 

The following points were noted:

 

• Members noted that Future Living Hertford anticipated about 260 residents of Welwyn Hatfield would be impacted by the grant over the next 12 months.
• Members noted that the nature of this scheme meant organisations had been encouraged to apply for funding to cover expenses such as rent.
• Members noted that it was helpful to see a breakdown of where the money will be spent and how the charity will help the community.

 

AGREED a grant of £5,000.

 

 

Mind in Mid Herts - £9,918.20

 

Mind in Mid Herts aim to reduce the number of people experiencing mental health issues. The charity improve access and create pathways that provide a safe space for people to find help and support without a fear of stigma or judgement.

 

Across the Welwyn Hatfield area, the charity support people who suffer with a range of mental health problems; from those living with anxiety or depression to long-term diagnosed conditions e.g. OCD, Bipolar.  Mind in Mid Herts offers support to anyone aged 16 and over. Individuals engage with services for a wide range of reasons which, impact on people’s mental health, including unemployment, poverty, bereavement, homelessness all of which can lead to stress, loneliness, anxiety and low mood. The charity were keen to engage these individuals, as early intervention with services will prevent long-term or escalation into more serious mental health problems. However at present, the charity were only just keeping up with demand. The charity felt that the people who were disproportionately affected by the covid-19 virus needs were not being met. A recent mental health survey (May-July 2020) by Healthwatch Hertfordshire (269 responses) found that 80% of respondents said Covid-19 had negatively affected their mental health. Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact on many people and had disproportionately affected the mental health of certain groups including LGBTQ+, BAME, the physically isolated, those with long-term illness e.g. diabetes, sensory impaired, etc who have had to shield /isolate or found it more difficult to access services.

 

The following point was noted:

 

• Members noted that there seemed to be a lower rate of ethnic minority residents using Mind in Mid Herts in comparison to the general population.   Members wanted to see more ethnic minority residents using Mind in Mid Herts for Mental Health.

 

AGREED a grant of £7.500.

 

 

St John of God Hospitaller Services - £10,000

 

St John of God Hospitaller Services were looking to fund the work on the sensory garden at Woodhall community centre, the funding would enable the charity to undertake the ground work. Then by April 2022, the charity would be ready to begin planting, the work will be done by the people the charity support. These will be people with learning disabilities and autism and will help to promote their self-development. The charity’s aim was that by the summer 2022 they will have a blossoming area that is accessible, tranquil and is well-used.

 

The Charity had worked with the people they support and had identified that they would benefit from an outdoor sensory garden as there was nowhere in the area that has this. Also some people stated that they do not have a garden of their own because of their support needs and were particularly isolated during lockdown periods.

 

The following points were noted:

 

• Members thought the sensory garden was a fantastic idea and supported the application.
• Members noted that the charity wanted to reach out to the Welwyn Hatfield community and make a positive impact.

 

AGREED a grant of £9,919.72.

 

 

Welwyn Hatfield Community and Voluntary Services - £5,000 (agreed via discussion that this was £10,000).

 

WHCVS work with a number of charities and the community. Volunteers were referred to charities to support their work or in deed to access the services that they provide. CVS sit on a number of committees and therefore were able to disseminate information back to the community via their social media platform. WHCVS were instrumental in bringing together the newly formed Unity of Culture, a group of likeminded people who were able to advise the council and police on BME issues.

 

The Volunteer Centre would like to support vulnerable people into volunteering roles to aid their recovery. CVS would use volunteering as a gateway into upskilling people into employment and for retired people to share or learn new skills.

 

The following points were noted:

 

• Members noted that there was an ambiguity on the form which may have led to a confusion as to how much funding was being sought. On reflection Members assessed that the organisation was seeking £10,000 in funding. 
• Members were supportive of the application and the work carried out by the organisation.

 

AGREED a grant of £9,919.72.

 

 

Welwyn Rugby Club - £10,000

 

The Welwyn Rugby Club lease and maintain Handside Playing Fields at Hobbs Way for the benefit of the 23 teams that the club run from U6s through to Veterans.

 

The club wanted to improve the facilities and training/playing equipment for their Mini, Junior and Girls sections within the club.

 

The following points were noted:

 

• Members supported the application and thought the club had a positive impact within the community during the pandemic.
• Members did note that the club could do more to increase its diversity and inclusion of those from ethnic minority communities.

 

AGREED a grant of £7,500.

 

 

Welwyn Hatfield Women's Refuge and Support Services - £9,991.12

 

WHWR provided safe accommodations and safeguarding within two locations within the Borough. One purpose built refuge housing up to 10 women and 25 children at any given time. A second stage refuge for 3 women and babies. All had fled domestic abuse, all have PTSD and extremely vulnerable. The WHWR supported the women living in these refuges who were high risk of domestic homicide and grievous bodily or mental harm. During COVID, they housed 2 women who were homeless rough sleepers who had fled domestic abuse.

 

The funding would be used for COVID related activities carried out by the Ops Manager and housekeeping and recover rent paid for empty rooms due to additional turnaround measures to ensure rooms were deep cleaned and safe.

 

The following point was noted:

 

• Members supported the application and thought the Womens Refuge had created a safe space for women and children during the pandemic.

 

AGREED a grant of £9,910.84.

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)   The Grants Board agreed that the applications for Covid-19 Relief Community Grants met the criteria for the COMF.

(2)   The Grants Board noted that the total value of all seven applications exceeded the budget available and the Board were not able to award more than £59,570 in total.

(3)   Members noted their ability to fully fund, part fund or not fund at all any of the applications that had been received.

 

That the COVID-19 Relief Grants should be paid as follows:

 

COVID-19 Grant- Organisations	Amount seeking	Amount Granted
Future Living Hertford	£10,000	£5,000
Forever Young People	£9,900	£9,819.72
Mind in Mid Herts	£9,918.20	£7,500
St John of God Hospitaller Services	£10,000	£9,919.72
Welwyn Hatfield Community and Voluntary Services	£10,000	£9,919.72
Welwyn Rugby Club	£10,000	£7,500
Welwyn Hatfield Women's Refuge and Support Services	£9,991.12	£9,910.84
Total:	£69,809.32	£59,570