We launch a Rural Hardship Support Fund

We have set up a Rural Hardship Support Fund to help people in rural areas of Derbyshire who are suffering extreme hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

This has been possible thanks to an award of £2,000 from The Prince’s Countryside Fund. 

Claire Saunders, Director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund said: “Small rural organisations like RAD are the lifeblood of many far-flung communities. They have adapted to provide unprecedented support to rural people, quickly, and efficiently, with the help of a dedicated army of local volunteers. We are so grateful to all our sponsors, who by supporting The Prince’s Countryside Fund, have enabled the provision of these Rural Response Emergency Grants during this crisis.”

Beverley Parker, our CEO says, “We are so grateful to The Prince’s Countryside Fund for helping us support people in rural Derbyshire. We know many people in rural areas are struggling, mainly in relation to jobs. Some people may have lost their job, others have to stay at home to take care of children and not everyone qualifies for government support.

 “We want to make sure people can pay their bills and aren’t going hungry.”

Applications to the Hardship Fund will be by referral (see below for the list of referral organisations) and individuals will need to meet the criteria to qualify.

The fund can provide regular food parcels and assistance with some critical household expenses. People will also be able to access information on other support available to them relative to their specific needs.

We have also been very fortunate to receive some donations from the public via our website. We are adding the money raised through our website to the Hardship Fund to enable us to help even more people.

 Application is by referral from any of the following:

• Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy team
• Farming Community Network (FCN)
• Farming Life Centre (FLC)
• Feeding Derbyshire Food Banks or Community Café
• Citizen’s Advice

Criteria for support:

• In severe financial hardship (unable to pay for basic necessities such as food, household bills, rent etc) and
• Unable to access other support such as government schemes or waiting for payment from such schemes

OR

• In severe emotional distress or poor mental health, anxious, lonely, depressed, and with no current treatment plan or referral to mental health services

Individuals must be living or working in a rural area of Derbyshire

We are particularly targeting people associated with the farming industry including farmers and workers in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and countryside services and people living in isolated rural communities who have been adversely affected by Covid-19. 

 For further information please email [email protected].

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