EMERGENCY funding for Isle of Wight charities — who are thought to have helped 10,000 Island residents — has been welcomed by the MP.

To help with its response to the coronavirus crisis, grants from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) totalling £162,000 have been awarded to 27 charities and voluntary organisations.

The money has been used by the charities to help provide vulnerable residents with hot meals and giving families access to specialist sensory equipment to support children and young people with additional needs during lockdown, as well as other good deeds.

Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely, said: "Our brilliant charities are already playing a crucial role in our national effort to fight coronavirus – backed up by an army of volunteers to support those who are most in need.

"This will benefit tens of thousands of charities, ensuring they can meet increased demand as a result of the virus as well as continuing their day to day activities supporting those in need.”

Grants from HIWCF have been able to be made thanks to donations to the charitable trust from local businesses and families, also from funding from the National Emergencies Trust, the NHS Covid-19 Fund and the Isle of Wight Community Funds.

One charity who had been given some of the funding, Age UK Isle of Wight, has been able to provide those who are vulnerable, lonely and isolated with shopping and medicine deliveries, wellbeing checks and befriending calls.

Bobby Lock from Isle of Wight Community Rail Partnership, another of the community groups to benefit from a grant from the foundation said: "Thanks to our grant, we were able to provide hot and nutritious lunches to vulnerable and isolated people from the Gaslight Café at Sandown Railway Station."

Grant Cornwell MBE, chief executive of HIWCF, said: “Island charities have stepped up to meet the emerging needs of this crisis, and found new and resourceful ways to meet their objectives.

"At the same time, their income is so severely affected that for many their very existence remains in doubt, so we would urge people to continue to dig deep and contribute to the vital work they are doing across the Island community.”

To make a donation you can go to virginmoneygiving.com/fund/AllTogether or to find out more about grants from HIWCF, you can visit www.hiwcf.com

Pictures by www.grahamreading.com.