A WILTSHIRE Community Foundation fund set up to help voluntary groups provide immediate relief from the coronavirus crisis has broken the half million pound barrier in just five weeks.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Coronavirus Response Fund now stands at £543,415 and has already distributed more than £280,000 to almost 80 groups across the county.

The community foundation’s interim co-chief executive Fiona Oliver said staff are working flat out to deal with applications for help as they flood in.

“It’s been an incredible effort by a small team,” she said, “but that only matches the amazing energy and achievements of the groups we are funding. It has been truly humbling to see how so many people have stepped up to meet the demands of the pandemic and help keep their communities stay safe.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have had such wonderful generosity from individual donors, charitable trusts, companies and the National Emergencies Trust and we are very, very grateful to have been able to pass that money on to where it is most desperately needed.”

Among the beneficiaries has been Pewsey Community Coronavirus Assistance, a group founded by landscape gardener Phil Brady just six weeks ago. He began by putting out a flyer asking if people needed help and now has a network of 160 volunteers based at the Bouverie Hall.

The group, which has been awarded £2,500 from Wiltshire Community Foundation, has set up a food bank and is delivering food parcels, is doing shopping for elderly and vulnerable people in isolation and has formed a buddy group to make regular calls to people living alone.

Mr Brady said: “We have a volunteer who is a librarian and we have had a load of books donated so we have also launched a library service. We also have been given games, puzzles and toys. We’re putting the items in quarantine and then delivering them to people’s doorsteps. When they’ve finished with them, they let us know and we go and collect them.”

This week has also seen the launch of a cooking team delivering hot meals to vulnerable people on the group’s list. Said Mr Brady: “The Waterfront at Pewsey Wharf is going to make a dish every week. We will also be delivering cakes and flags to celebrate VE day this Friday.

“The community foundation grant will help us to keep all this going so we are very grateful.”

Wiltshire People First, a Semington-based support group for adults with mental disability or autism, is unable to hold its regular meetings and has been given £1,200 to set up a telephone service to ensure its 50 members are safe and well.

Director Angie Carmichael said the calls help combat stress and the anxiety of isolation for members who live all over north and west Wiltshire.

“One of the biggest issues for people with learning difficulties is social isolation and it is really difficult for them at the best of times.”

Many of our members will be living independently and they have minimal support. They will often be on their own for many hours of the day. Normally they would be able to manage on their own but in circumstances like this it is very stressful for them,” she said.

“This Wiltshire Community Foundation grant has made a huge difference because we have been able to check up on how they are and let them know we are there if they are anxious or fed up.”

Mrs Oliver said: “These groups are showing how resilient the voluntary sector has been in the face of this crisis. We know there are many, many of them out there who are struggling with increased demand and greatly reduced fundraising capacity, so our support is going to be more important than ever in the coming months.”

To donate to the fund, or to apply for a grant, go to wiltshirecf.org.uk.