Domestic abuse charity among next partnerships to hand out NET’s ‘at-risk groups' funding

The National Emergencies Trust (NET) has revealed three more charity partnerships to hand out £12m of funding, to support at risk groups amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Domestic abuse charity Refuge, a refugee and asylum seekers support consortium led by the Refugee Council and Cruse Bereavement Care will distribute a share of the funding.

The fund was created from NET’s Coronavirus Appeal to specifically support at-risk groups.

The first two consortia, disability support network DPO COVID-19 Coalition and the LGBT+Consortium Helpline Alliance, were announced earlier this month.

Work carried out by the partnerships includes ramping up helpline support and delivering grants to specialist charities. The aim of creating the partnerships is to ensure that delivery of grants is being made “by people with lived experience of the issues faced”, says NET.

“This pandemic has created new needs on an unprecedented scale, and exacerbated existing challenges, added NET deputy-chair Gerald Oppenheim.

“Helplines play a key part in the new partnerships because they offer accessible help to those unsure where to turn, or unable to access other services.

“Our partners’ helplines have already been oversubscribed because of the pandemic and our research suggests that this demand will continue, as more people seek support from the sector for the first time.”

Refugee Council chief executive Maurice Wren said that the NET funding “will enable us to reach out and provide a vital lifeline to many marginalised refugees and people seeking asylum whose vulnerability have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Lisa King, Refuge’s director of communications and external relations added: “As lockdown measures ease, our services are needed more than ever. With NET’s support, our national helplines can respond to this growing need as we all continue to navigate the Covid-19 crisis.”

Meanwhile, Cruse Bereavement Care chief executive Steven Wibberley said: “The funding from the National Emergencies Trust will enable us to continue increasing capacity on our National Helpline, reach a wider audience, as well as be more accessible those most in need.

“This also includes specific funding to increase the diversity of our volunteers and clients.”