Unity, a Test Valley charity, are overjoyed to hear that they have been awarded a grant of £10,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund to enable them to build on work from the Covid 19 Helpline to provide a service beyond the reactive support currently on offer.
This funding will enable Unity to offer more than just signposting support but to provide help to those who may need direct support as well as linking to groups, businesses and other services in the heart of the community.
Unity volunteers come from a range of ages and social backgrounds, while most of the people needing help tend to be older people living alone, this project will add to a longer-term community cohesiveness by creating new links and relationships between individuals.
Unity Chief Executive Terry Bishop said: “The Covid crisis has created real hardship and our volunteers and the local groups are doing everything they can to ensure people have everything they need. This funding will also enable us to strengthen these relationships, engage these volunteers and communities in the longer term to build on the fantastic ‘community spirit’ we have seen across the Borough”