Community organisations may be eligible for £3,000 infection control grant

November 25, 2020

Community and voluntary organisations are being supported to put infection control measures in place, so they can reopen within Government guidelines, to ensure the prevention of infection. Grants of between £100 and £3,000 are being made available.

The infection control grant can be used to fund salaries and volunteer expenses where staff are isolating in line with government guidance. This includes staff or a member of their household who are waiting for a test, they are self-isolating due to testing positive for COVID-19, they are quarantined prior to receiving certain NHS procedures or they are attending a GP or pharmacy to be vaccinated against flu outside of their normal working hours.

This grant cannot be used for other running or core costs, such as utility bills.

Interested organisations will be required to show how the funding will contribute to implementing infection control measures. Interested organisations are asked to send an expression of interest email to nicolamickleburgh@southend.gov.uk. The email should include details on how the funding contribute to putting infection control measures in place, a full list of items and their costs.

Councillor Trevor Harp, cabinet member for health and adult social care said: “We recognise the immense value community organisations and the voluntary sector provide in our society, and our hope is that this grant enables these organisations to reopen in a safe way.

“This funding can be put towards refurbishments of community buildings, however this must be for the purpose of infection control measures, for example to enable social distancing. It could help pay for digital equipment if it will be used to prevent infection, or even steps to limit the use of public transport by volunteers. Please do enquire if you think your organisation may be eligible, so we can together help community groups to continue with the valuable work they do, in a covid-secure way.”