Ministers have confirmed that the final payments to health and care charities, which were awarded a share of a £22m package of government funding amid the Covi-19 crisis, will be made by the end of October.

Labour's shadow charities minister Rachael Maskell asked a written question in parliament to the government on how much of the funding has been allocated and received by charities.

In his response, health and social care minister Edward Argar said that all of the fund has now been allocated and that “payments to the value of £21.3m have been made to date.”

He added: “Payments to charities are being made in staged payments and expenditure plans show that the grants will be fully paid by the end of October.”

The £22m funding package was created to support charities providing life saving health and care support amid the pandemic. This includes those supporting beneficiaries with autism, learning disabilities, mental health issues and dementia.

It is aimed at ensuring they can continue to offer support day-to-day to vulnerable people.

Among charities to be allocarted funding were St John Ambulance and Air Ambulances UK, who received £6m each.

The money is part of a UK-wide £750m package of support for charities, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April.

The government has been urged to look for further ways to support the charity sector and ensure funding reaches voluntary organisations quicker.

Earlier this month the Charity Tax Group and the Charity Retail Association urged ministers to remove state aid restrictions for charities with 30 or more shops.

Charity sector groups have also called for an overhaul of VAT to support the voluntary sector.

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