Good causes in the Grantham area and across Lincolnshire have benefited from £150,000 of community funding from the county council to provide vital support during the pandemic.

Councillor Sue Woolley, Executive Councillor for NHS Liaison and Community Engagement, highlights how the council's community fund has been used over the past eight months.

"When the nation went into lockdown in March this year due to Covid 19, it soon became obvious that many people in our communities would need help to get through the difficult times ahead.

"Thousands of people had to shield for health or age reasons, families' incomes suddenly shrank as businesses had to close or jobs furloughed, and most children stayed at home.

"In Lincolnshire there is an amazing community spirit. Many people wanted to help, making sure that no one who was vulnerable would be left isolated, or without food or vital medicines.

"New voluntary groups were formed and existing groups responded quickly to help those in need.

"To support them, the county council launched a community grant fund.

"Each councillor had £3,000 to award to local groups who would benefit from support. We've now reached a landmark figure of £150,000 awarded to groups across Lincolnshire.

"We know these funds have made a huge difference, ensuring volunteers have been able to buy food, vital PPE, and other materials and equipment.

"I've been so impressed by the generosity, kindness and energy of these volunteers. Many have been true 'local heroes', giving hours, days and even months of their time to help others.

"Across the county, volunteers have been delivering shopping and prescriptions to the vulnerable and elderly. The Hogsthorpe Volunteers Group did this in their village, they also set up a phone buddy system and even offered a dog walking service!

"They also sold fresh produce from the village hall, with a delivery service for those who were self isolating. A grant of £500 from Cllr Colin Davie helped them buy essential supplies.

"Across the county, many other residents and parish councils set up similar groups. There are too many to name here, but just a few are the Spalding Covid Kindness Group, Ruskington Coronavirus Volunteers and Morton and Hanthorpe Parish Council.

"As PPE was in short supply, keen sewers were busy making masks, scrubs and bags. Seventy volunteers in Louth named the Louth Scrubbers sewed PPE for local hospitals, doctors and nursing homes. A grant of £500 from Cllr Tony Bridges enabled the group to buy more material locally.

"In Wragby, a heroic group of volunteers decided that no one should go hungry in their community. The Wragby ChEF produced thousands of healthy packed lunches for every child, and cooked over 1,000 hot nutritious meals for the elderly and vulnerable. They also helped to run the town's food bank, ensuring that anyone who was in need could pick up essential food supplies.

"A grant of £500 from Cllr Patricia Bradwell enabled a local group to purchase essential food for their kitchen to keep running.

"As people missed being able to meet family and friends, and annual events had to be cancelled, it became important to keep up people's morale and boost community spirits.

"Cllr Martin Hill awarded £410 to Ropsley and District Parish Council, which ran a popular online Best Kept Garden scheme. The scheme attracted over 100 entries and enabled people to enjoy each other's gardens online, even if they couldn't visit in person.

"As VE Day approached, the Grantham Community Effort used grants from Cllrs Ray and Linda Wootten to purchase goody bags for veterans and cadets, so they could still join in and mark the special day.

"The Sleaford New Life Community Larder was supported by a number of our councillors to help deliver hundreds of food packages and thousands of hot meals across North and South Kesteven to families in need and vulnerable people self-isolating.

"Food banks have played their part including Feeding Gainsborough, granted £1,000 by Cllr Matthew Boles and Bridge Church Lincoln which was awarded £2,500 by Cllr Kev Clarke.

"As we head towards winter and Covid is on the rise again, the need for these voluntary groups, with their local expertise, knowledge and wonderful support will still be vital.

"Our council fund is still running and taking applications. If your group needs funds, please apply to www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/communityfund."