The grant-making charity, funded by Heathrow Airport, is offering to help voluntary organisations with donations towards the costs of replacing vital equipment lost to the storms in cases where there is no help available from insurance or statutory funding. It could be damaged IT equipment, flooded community gardens or allotments or furniture at a local community hall or youth group.
Caroline Nicholls, fund director said “Heathrow Community Fund has helped many local community groups with grants, donating £500,000 last year alone. We’re now concerned that so much of their good work will be destroyed by the floods. When the waters have subsided and these groups are counting the cost of the damage, Heathrow Community Fund may be able to help with a donation towards the expense.”
Heathrow Community Fund has three distinct grant streams: Communities for Youth, Communities for Tomorrow and the Communities Together scheme. Communities for Youth offers grants for local groups including charities, voluntary groups and schools delivering projects linked to education and economic regeneration. Communities for Tomorrow grants are focused on projects that help protect the environment or encourage sustainable development and are intended to benefit communities most closely affected by Heathrow’s operations. The Communities Together scheme supports a wider range of smaller, community focused projects.
The funds come from three sources – fines imposed on aircraft that breach noise limits, an annual donation from Heathrow and spare change from airport passengers.
Organisations can apply for help through the fund’s Communities Together grant stream, with application forms available on the website www.heathrow.com/communityfund.
Grant applicants will need to supply evidence of loss, together with quotes for the cost of replacement alongside their application form. Trustees will look at each application on its merits, awarding funds to the groups they feel are most in need.
For more information on how to apply email community_fund@heathrow.com.
