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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how small (a) national and (b) local charities specialising in loneliness can access the £5 million covid-19 loneliness grant fund.

As part of a major effort to tackle loneliness during the Covid-19 outbreak, on 13th May the government launched a £5m grant fund. This closed for applications on 29th May.

Applications were invited from national organisations and umbrella organisations able to fund local organisations in their networks. The grants will support them to adapt and continue their work to tackle loneliness and to deliver effective, targeted relief for those most at risk of loneliness as a result of Covid-19.

Loneliness is also a priority category of the £200m Coronavirus Community Support Fund provided by The National Lottery Community Fund, targeted at small and medium sized VCSE organisations to help them maintain and enhance services for vulnerable people affected by the current crisis.