Charities supporting the arts and young people are set to be invited to apply for a share of £22m in funding.

The money is being ringfenced by grant giving organisation John Lyon’s Charity to help services that support children recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as well help charities at risk of closure.

Funding will be handed out over the next year and is specifically looking to support organisations working in collaboration, those replicating successful initiatives and those facing a serious risk of closure

John Lyon’s Charity is urging other UK funders to follow its approach and prioritise the survival of children and young people’s services.

“The impact of Covid-19 threatens to sweep away even the strongest of organisations; once they are gone, they will not come back,” said John Lyon’s Charity grants director Cathryn Pender.

The initial round of funding will be on ramping up arts opportunities in schools. This will be through Cultural Capital Fund, and aims to develop partnerships between schools and arts organisation

“This innovative new Fund is designed to bring arts organisations and schools together to ensure there is a varied and accessible offer available to all children, regardless of their background,” said the charity.

John Lyon’s Charity chief executive Lynne Guyton added: “We have taken time to reflect and believe we now need to act strategically and definitively for the sector for the long-term. Our aim is to fund not just for the recovery but for the sustainability of the children and young people’s sector.

“We strongly believe that we need to take positive action now to safeguard our previous investment in the sector for future generations. Now is the proverbial rainy day”.

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