Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when charities providing support for people during the covid-19 outbreak will be able to submit bids for funding to National Lottery Community Fund; and what the planned timetable is for distributing that funding.

On 8 April, Government announced a £750m civil society support package. Of this, £360m is being distributed by central Government Departments and £370m is available for charities providing vital services for those affected by the pandemic.

Of the £310m available in England, £200m is being distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund through the Coronavirus Community Support Fund. Charities and social enterprises can bid into the Coronavirus Community Support Fund from 22 May.

This funding will support organisations working with people and communities experiencing disproportionate challenges during the crisis, and those that provide services and support for vulnerable people which have seen an increase in demand or have lost income. Supporting guidance is provided on the National Lottery Community Fund website.