LCR Cares, the community fund set up by Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, in partnership with the Community Foundation for Merseyside and the National Emergencies Trust has now raised more than £1.5 million.

This latest milestone comes as the fund received a further £120,417 from the National Emergencies Trust

The Fund has also benefited from contributions from other charitable trusts, such as the Daneway Foundation, local businesses, like Home Bargains, and high-profile individuals, such as Jamie Carragher and Sir Terry Leahy, as well as hundreds of individual contributions from people across the city region.

LCR Cares has already distributed £1.2 million of that total to more than 300 local community organisations across the whole Liverpool City Region

Speaking about this latest milestone, Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“I’m very proud of the support we’ve been able to provide for literally hundreds of community groups across our whole city region, through LCR Cares, and it’s brilliant to see the fund pass this latest milestone.

“From mental health support and debt advice, to providing food and activities for vulnerable people, community organisations are doing amazing work to help their neighbours through this crisis, and the continued generosity towards the fund has been amazing.

“Solidarity and community spirit are at the heart of our city region which is why we were amongst the very first in the country to set up this type of fund.  Its success is no surprise to me and I’d encourage people to continue to support it as there are still plenty of people in need of support.”

Rae Brooke, Chief Executive for the Community Foundation for Merseyside, said:

“Three months on from the COVID-19 lockdown, we feel incredibly privileged to have worked alongside the Metro Mayor, National Emergencies Trust, multiple donors and many inspirational community leaders to support the most vulnerable in our community. Over £1.5m to date has been raised to support those in need.

“Many people will continue to need significant help in the months to come, and beyond, so we urge those that can to donate to the LCR Cares COVID-19 Community Support Fund or volunteer their time. A huge thank you to everyone who has stepped up to the mark in recent months and demonstrated real community spirit when many have needed it most.”

Details on how to donate are on the Combined Authority’s website. Search “LCRCares” or go to www.lcrcares.co.ukyou can also visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/LCRcares

Community organisations can apply for grants by visiting: www.cfmerseyside.org.uk

LCRCares is a crowdfunding campaign to raise £1million to support community and voluntary organisations on the frontline of helping the city region’s communities cope with the impact of Coronavirus.