The LCR Cares Fund has reached another milestone, with more than half a million pounds having been directly awarded to local community organisations to date.

Contributions to the fund, which now stand at over £800k, have come from individuals and charitable foundations as well as from business, with increasing numbers of donations being made by Liverpool City Region’s small and medium-sized companies.

Recent donations from regional SMEs include £5000 from Sefton-based Financial Planning Corporation through their charitable foundation and £3000 given by Liverpool construction management firm Momentum – with senior partners and directors at both calling on other local firms to give to the fund where they can.

The LCR Cares Fund was established by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram with the aim of raising £1m to address the urgent needs of the Liverpool City Region’s most vulnerable communities during the Coronavirus crisis.

Just over a month after it was launched, the LCR Cares Fund has already directed grants to more than 120 local frontline charities and aid groups, enabling them to quickly provide essential food and care supplies, assistance with rents and utilities and remote health and wellbeing support where it is most needed.

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, said:

“I understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for many businesses. I am working closely with our local councils and the city region’s Growth Platform to do what we can to help local businesses access the funding and support they need to keep going.

“To see us through this crisis, it is important that we all do whatever we can to help each other out. It’s fantastic to see local businesses, already rooted in their communities, giving what they can to help support their neighbours through this crisis. If you can afford it, please consider donating to the LCR Cares Fund and help us support some of the most vulnerable across our region.”

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

“SMEs play a vital role in the growth of our local, and national, economy. They can also play a vital role in the strength of their local community. In donating to the LCR Cares COVID-19 Community Support Fund, the FPC Foundation and the Momentum Foundation are demonstrating a real commitment to both those aims.

“We can’t thank them enough for their support and would call on all SMEs in the Liverpool City Region to consider if their business is able to make any form of contribution. We know it’s incredibly tough for the vast majority of businesses at the moment but we have been delighted to see companies like FPC and The Momentum Group who can give, are giving.”

Managing Partner of Financial Planning Corporation, Moira O’Shaughnessysaid:

“At this time of unprecedented demand, we are delighted to be able to answer the call from our friends at the Community Foundation to contribute to the LCR Cares Fund from our newly formed FPC Foundation. We congratulate all those involved in this fantastic initiative and would encourage all small businesses to join us in supporting the relief effort if they can. Every little makes a huge difference.”

Chris Bliss, Co-Founder and Director of The Momentum Group said: “One of our priorities at the time of establishing our business was to set up a foundation to support the local communities in order that we give back to where we draw from. We are a property company providing building, management and maintenance services to our clients, managing and enhancing their assets and providing a better environment for their tenants. Given the current pandemic, we recognise that a lot of people need additional support and the LCR Cares Fund is ideal to ensure the monies donated are channelled to the community and volunteer workers on the frontline.

“We believe all businesses, whether large or small, should support their local community – a way to give back and create a better environment for all and one way to start would be with the LCR Cares Fund.”

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.