2020 continues to pose difficulties for everyone. Proving once again how vital lotteries are in the 21st century, the People’s Postcode Lottery recently stepped up to the plate. They announced something called the Postcode Recovery Fund. We know that the National Lottery directed funding towards helping community projects survived closure to the the pandemic. However, the People’s Postcode Lottery is taking a different approach with their scheme. Instead, funding will become available for projects with great ideas to help with the recovery project. This is nothing new. In fact, it’s adapted from their long-standing scheme known as Postcode Dream Trust.
What is the Postcode Recovery Fund?
Redirecting £3m of funds, the Postcode Recovery Fund will specifically target charities in the following areas:
- Education
- Domestic abuse
- Homelessness
- Health
- Poverty
- Social isolation and exclusion
Any charity in these categories with solutions they would like to implement are eligible for grants of between £500,000 and £1m. Charities across the country have stepped up to help the most vulnerable people in this difficult year. Recognising the important role that lotteries play in helping good causes, charities with such a solution may apply right now. This is not much different to the concept of the Postcode Dream Trust, however, which helped charities and social enterprises achieve their dreams to help more people.
The People’s Postcode Lottery feel that there will be long-term, and sometimes permanent effects of the pandemic. Coronavirus isn’t just a threat to our physical health through both death and so-called “Long COVID” but also in how we interact as communities. Concerns about finances, the impact on the community, personal engagement (social distancing and the changes to the workplace) make the new Postcode Recovery Fund vital.
For the most vulnerable, especially those currently isolated, there is potential for lasting mental health issues.
Applications close at the end of October.