Page 6 - OCF - Pandemic Year Impact Report

As the pandemic progressed, we started to see some major themes emerging:
Aside from the clear public health crisis of the pandemic itself, much of the work we funded throughout the year dealt with the knock-on effects of lockdown. It helped people of all ages cope with mental health problems, and the isolation of living with a disability or existing serious illness; and it brought to safety women experiencing increased domestic violence.
“The grant helped us to safely see many complex at-risk young people, who were struggling with suicidal thoughts to crippling anxiety at the uncertainty of life changing as we all knew it.”
Abingdon Bridge
32%
11%
Total grant amounts by theme
41%
16%
Stronger communities £106,574
Economy £416,984 Health £327,586 Education £163,324
The effect of restrictions and lockdowns on employment and financial wellbeing was sudden and for some catastrophic. As well as keeping people stocked with basic food and provisions, our funding prevented homelessness via debt and benefits advice; ensured continued employment for people working for social enterprises; and provided wrap-around support for people who had been brought in from the streets as part of the Everyone In initiative.
“The team were able to check in with vulnerable local people as they came for food, monitoring and supporting their wellbeing, and signposting them to specialist services as relevant.”
Aldates Community Transformation Initiatives
School closures felt disastrous for anyone with children, but some families were left completely unequipped to home-school, in terms of space, equipment or literacy levels. Our funding helped children from low-income families who risked falling behind, providing everything from laptops, to tailored doorstep support, to access to sport and the arts.
“Our letter writing project meant volunteers could keep in touch with the children they had been supporting. It revitalised the art
of letter writing and children who received their very own letters felt very special, and learned how to write in return.”
Assisted Reading for Children (ARCh)
May
• UK death toll becomes the highest in Europe and second highest in the world
• Final clap for carers
June July
• Schools start to reopen and lockdown 1 starts to ease
• Coronavirus restrictions eased as hospitality industry opens
• Runnymede Trust conducts up
4 Journal of a Pandemic Year
research suggesting that BME groups are at greater COVID risk due to socio-economic factors
• OCF closes Community Resilience Fund for the first time since March
• OCF awards three major Recover Stronger grants
Economy Health
Education