Coronavirus: Paul Girvan calls On Chancellor to support charities

Paul Girvan, Member of Parliament for South Antrim joined over 300 other Parliamentarians to lobby the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to provide Government schemes to support charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises during Covid-19.
Paul Girvan MP.Paul Girvan MP.
Paul Girvan MP.

The cross-party letter, signed by members from both Houses, calls for the Government to establish immediate funding for the groups who are serving our society throughout Covid-19.

The signatories are also calling for a stabilisation fund for all groups in these categories to ensure that they are able to continue beyond Covid-19. The importance of extending all the provisions set out for business to date during Covid-19 be extended to charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises is also called for.

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The DUP representative said: “Firstly I want to commend all of those volunteers, charities and social enterprises that have been helping with vital assistance to our community in South Antrim during Covid-19. It is not an easy task, but you have risen to the occasion well.

“The Government has announced unprecedented support for businesses and the self-employed, however now is the time for the Chancellor to disperse the worries that charities are facing right now. There are many groups who are putting themselves at massive financial risk by expanding their services at a time when their fundraising has all but ceased. These groups continue to operate because of their dedication and compassion for the community around them. They simply cannot stop helping, it is against the fibre of their being.”

Mr Girvan added: “Rishi Sunak and The Treasury can put an end to the uncertainty for charities by providing a series of safety-nets such as an emergency fund and clarifying the access which such organisations can have to the job retention fund.

“The work that these groups do is worth many multiples of the money that the Government should be providing. We cannot afford to lose great organisations in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK through Covid-19, the losses would have immensely negative consequences for our society in the near future.

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“South Antrim has a deep history of charitable organisations ,volunteer groups and social enterprises who have contributed a wonderful legacy, which we should all be proud of. Now is time for that legacy to be protected. Now is time for the Chancellor to act.”

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