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Last call for applications to Emergency Fund
Date posted: 9th April 2020
Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) has announced a last call for sight loss organisations to apply to its emergency fund.
The fund was launched at the end of March to support sight loss charities which are providing vital services to blind and partially sighted people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organisations which wish to apply have until 5pm Friday 17 April to submit their applications.
Charles Colquhoun, CEO at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said: “In just a fortnight TPT has seen a huge interest in these grants.
“We set aside £500,000 for this emergency fund to allow sight loss sector organisations to continue providing critical services for the physical and emotional wellbeing of blind and partially sighted people.
“From Lochaber to Dorset, we have received applications from right across the country. They also range thematically from local societies and organisations campaigning for eye health to those which provide sports for bind and partially sighted people.
“I would urge organisations that need support, and which have not yet applied to us, to do so by next Friday.”
More than 60 organisations have applied to date and more than half have been approved, subject to final due diligence. This equates to well over £300,000 worth of grants already awarded by TPT with the average grant just under £10,000. TPT is also in discussion with many applicants to seek further clarification on their bids.
The grants, available to sight loss charities, are up to £10,000 or the equivalent of two months’ running costs (whichever is less) for use over the next six months.
TPT suspended its normal grant funding activities, postponed the launch of its revised grant programme and is using funds previously allocated to its normal grant programme to provide this essential support to partners in the sight loss sector.
Charles added: “The monies can be used either to cover the general running costs of the charity in the face of cashflow issues directly caused by the crisis, or to fund a project that will support the blind and partially sighted community through these difficult times.”
Visit our COVID-19 page which covers what TPT is doing to lobby the Government to add blind and partially sighted people to the priority list for online shopping and how you can help. Also contains sight advice FAQs, handy apps and advice for our residential tenants.