03
June
2020
|
12:46
Europe/Amsterdam

London Stansted donates £50,000 to local charities during COVID-19 outbreak

Airport works with Uttlesford District Council to ensure donation is immediately available to a range of local organisations

Charities offering a range of support to local residents through the Covid-19 pandemic, including mental health, domestic abuse and tackling social isolation are to benefit from a £50,000 donation by London Stansted Airport.

Each year the Airport usually contributes the £50,000 sum into its Stansted Airport Community Trust (SACT), which is used to support local communities impacted by aircraft noise. However, this year, in consultation with the SACT’s Chairman Susan Barker, the Airport has adopted a new approach, choosing instead to give the money directly to organisations tackling the local impact of Covid-19.

The Airport has worked with Uttlesford District Council (UDC) to identify four charities in the region who have been playing a key role in providing support during this period. The charities have been selected to ensure the money will still be used in communities that would have benefited from the SACT. Each charity will receive £12,500 to support their work in local communities throughout the current pandemic.

The chosen charities are:

• West Essex Mind - providing mental health support

• Next Chapter - a domestic abuse charity operating across Uttlesford and Braintree

• CVS Uttlesford - offering a range of health and social care support

• CVS Broxbourne and East Herts- mirroring the work of CVS Uttlesford

Ken O’Toole, London Stansted’s CEO, said:

“At London Stansted we have always been proud of the role we play in our region, and our Community Trust has helped support countless organisations and initiatives in the local community over the years.

“This year, Covid-19 is presenting the UK with one of its toughest ever social and economic challenges and we know that these charities have a vital role to play in providing much-needed support to the local community in which we operate.

“We are delighted to have teamed up with UDC to identify four organisations that have been helping those most in need and we thank them for all their critical work.”

Cllr Petrina Lees, Deputy Leader of Uttlesford District Council, said:

“Volunteers and local charities have played an important role during the public health emergency and we’ve all seen many heart-warming examples of the incredible work happening across Uttlesford towns and villages. The airport is a major local employer and so, in this time of need, we were delighted to have been able to help them identify some of the organisations that have been and continue to be at the heart of supporting local communities and residents.”

Cllr Susan Barker, Chairman of the Stansted Airport Community Trust, said:

“The Stansted Airport Community Trust always plays a valuable role in supporting numerous community projects and initiatives in the local area but, with the on-going Covid-19 crisis placing a huge strain on charities doing vital work to help local people, focussing the fund this year on four key organisations at this critical time is the right thing to do and a great way for the airport to demonstrate how it can make a real and positive impact in the local community.”