Airport Covid-19 relief funds 15 community groups

Hospices, sports clubs and neighbourhood groups are among the 15 organisations award Covid-19 relief grants from the Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund.

The fund has welcomed applications from groups within 10 miles of the Airport which are supporting their local communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund has agreed to award a total of £21,000 in grants to charitable causes.

Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne will receive £3,000 to purchase ten new iPads allowing patients to stay in more frequent contact with their friends and families. Anthony Lord, head of income generation & marketing at the hospice said:

Manchester Airport’s generous donation will give our patients the opportunity to virtually see and chat to their friends and family as current restrictions mean only two named visitors can call in.

“Tools like this are vital, to allow our patients some normality during these uncertain times. I am sure they and their loved ones as well as staff appreciate the help the Community Trust Fund has given us at Willow Wood Hospice.”

Wythenshawe AFC and The Cherry Tree Project in Stockport are putting their money to buy sporting equipment to allow for social distancing when they can re-open. The airport has provided a total of £21,714.68 in Covid-19 relief, with the largest approved individual application at £3,000, which was awarded to both Willow Wood Hospice and Smart Works GM.

Andrew Cowan, CEO at Manchester Airport, said:

For more than 20 years, the Community Trust Fund has supported local groups making a real difference across Greater Manchester and northern Cheshire.

“We are proud that it is once again enabling vital support to our neighbouring communities, particularly in these challenging times.”

The Community Trust Fund, which was set up in 1997, usually reviews applications quarterly, but trustees are speeding up the process for the latest applications to ensure the cash reaches affected communities as quickly as possible.

The financial support package from the Community Trust Fund follows a major volunteering campaign, led and organised by furloughed Manchester Airport workers.

The organisations which received funding from Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund are:

• Wythenshawe AFC (Manchester)
• Trafford Veterans (Trafford)
• Barnardos Wythenshawe Centre (Manchester)
• Church of England – Wythenshawe (Manchester)
• Wythenshawe Good Neighbours (Manchester)
• Cherry Tree Project (Stockport)
• Gorton Visual Arts (Manchester)
• Willow Wood Hospice (Tameside)
• Arty Kind (Stockport)
• Benchill Community Centre (Manchester)
• Ladybarn Community Hub (Manchester)
• Stockport Car Scheme (Stockport)
• Smart Works Greater Manchester (Stockport)
• Stockport Wheelchair Races (Stockport)
• Didsbury Good Neighbours (Manchester)

The Community Trust Fund’s board next meets in October and is already welcoming applications for up to £3,000 from locally-based not-for-profit organisations.

Image: L-R: Anthony Lord (Willow Wood Hospice); Tina Large (Manchester Airport); and Cllr Bill Fairfoull from Tameside MBC on behalf of the Trust Fund.