How can you support those affected by coronavirus?

Well, whichever Prime Minister you side with, the coronavirus pandemic has shown us all there certainly is such a thing as kindness.  Whether it’s people taking their elderly neighbours food or joining a national round of applause to celebrate key workers, current conditions have shown some of the best of humanity.

Many of our clients have been demonstrating this spirit of kindness for years through their philanthropy. They’ve done well for themselves and want to use their wealth to support the causes they care about. And as we all stay at home and stay safe, they have been asking us how best to support the people and charities affected by coronavirus.

Here’s how we think you can make the biggest difference right away, over the coming months and further into the future.

To provide quick support: Donate to the National Emergencies Trust

If you want to make a donation quickly and effectively, you should do so through the National Emergencies Trust (NET) Covid-19 appeal. We’re pleased to say that our parent company, NatWest Group, is matching donations made by all customers and colleagues* if you make your donation on this page.

The NET was established in 2019 to provide fundraising services for emergencies in the UK, and delivers the money raised via a network of local partners. This means it raises funds specifically and at pace for those affected by a domestic crisis. For this appeal, the Community Foundations network is delivering the first round of support.

Victoria Papworth, philanthropy specialist at the Coutts Institute, says, “NET works through local partners who are very experienced at handing out funding to people on the ground. So it’s the best way to make sure the funds you give reach the right people. It allows organisations working frantically at this time to receive the support without having to manage multiple donations from different places.”

Another option is an organisation called Crowdfunder, which is offering free crowdfunding campaigns to directly support small businesses and local charities.

*Until 30^th June, up to £5m total donations matched.

To help charities survive: Make a ‘no strings attached’ donation

Working with charities in these challenging times is about much more than an emergency response. It’s about building resilience to help local services survive, and making sure people continue to have the support they need.

Make no mistake, the virus poses a real threat to the very existence of charitable organisations across the country, stuck between a massive drop in income and a huge increase in demand.

They could stand to lose over £4 billion in income over the next three months, according to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. And nearly 40% of charities recently surveyed by the Charities Aid Foundation said they would not be able to operate in their current form in six months’ time without help.

Rachel Harrington, Head of the Coutts Institute, says, “No charity is immune to the impacts of this virus. It doesn’t really matter which particular sector, cause or charity our clients care about, whether that’s homelessness, education, the arts, domestic violence, refugees, or the environment. Everything is going to feel the brunt of reduced income and the struggle to deliver services people need.

“For those clients who already support charities, either locally, nationally or internationally, now is the time to get in touch to offer support and make those unrestricted donations that charities can use to keep going.”

To have a longer-term impact: Make your giving a family affair

When it comes to making the biggest impact with your longer-term philanthropy, it’s all about having a strategy, building relationships with the organisations you support, and involving your family.