At the height of the pandemic in 2020, we opened the Small Ideas Big Impact COVID-19 Emergency Fund for individuals and organisations who had previously applied to our Small Ideas Big Impact Fund. Our report is now available and highlights the impact of work completed throughout May – September 2020 and is based on 10 the projects which received emergency funding.
Projects could apply for funds up to £1000 to support immediate community responses to Covid-19. Applications were expected to have a focus on providing food access and address social risk factors that can contribute to malnutrition.
Projects that received funding included Glasgow’s Golden Generation, Moray Food Plus and Edinburgh Community Food.
As anticipated, most of the projects focussed on immediate provision of food, through deliveries of hot meals, soups, and/or snack boxes. Several projects had to rapidly expand their projects and deliveries to include new areas and/or individuals who were not previously engaged in their services. As restrictions prevented older people leaving their homes, many projects also assisted with shopping deliveries and supporting older people access essential items such as prescriptions.
The fund and the report also demonstrates the incredible resilience of third sector organisations during unprecedented times. It has also shown their ability to respond to need, be flexible and adapt to ever changing circumstances.