The Community Link Foundation charity has distributed an astonishing £50,000 in funding to deserving people and good causes in the Southport and West Lancashire community during the pandemic.
They have helped lots of people, including: presenting a two-year-old boy with cerebral palsy with a new buggy board; ensuring a local mun in a wheelchair could access her garden with her children; buying a speech device for a six-year-old boy with autism; supporting Southport Foodbank’s emergency appeal during the Covid pandemic; and many others.
The charity, which is based in Southport, is run entirely by local people, all volunteers, ensuring that all money raised goes directly towards the people who need it the most.
The Community Link Foundation is supported by a number of local companies and people, who were invited to hear about the success of the organisation during a Sponsors’ Lunch at The Office bar and restaurant in Southport town centre.
Chair Enda Rylands thanked everyone who has continued to donate to the Foundation during the pandemic, raising an impressive £53,000.
Part of this funding was through sponsorship by local companies, and part was through people signing up to the Southport Community Lottery.
Another significant fundraiser for the charity is through events, which have unfortunately been unable to take place over the past 18 months.
Enda Rylands said: “It is fair to say that 2020 and 2021 have been very different years for us all, we are still not in the clear where Covid is concerned.
“Many of us and hundreds and thousands of local families will have experienced a loss as a result of Covid. Many local families have experienced great hardship as a result of Covid, many of us are still waiting to catch up with family who we have not seen as a result of Covid and many people have suffered mental anguish and stress which they will be keeping to themselves and not sharing.
“Yes, things are improving, and we are getting most of those normalities back, but it will take many many years for us to be back to normal at least for some families.
“Throughout the pandemic the trustees have tried to maintain as much support for local individuals and organisations as possible.
“Much of our fundraising was paused, particularly relating to events but the generosity of some individual donations allowed us to maintain a level of grant giving that has benefitted hundreds of local families.
“I would like to say particular thanks to:
“Mark and Lyn Cunningham and the team at AJ Estates
“Mark Halsall and his team and Wholesale Flavours
“All the trustees, to thank them for their generosity.”
The Community Link Foundation is a local charity with a difference. It assists anyone in Southport and surrounding areas who need financial support in the form of a variety of ways.
Its leaders have a passion for supporting the people and organisations within our community and invest in the people who live in it so that we can be proud of where we live.
Whether you are a parent with a child requiring assistance as part of an on-going illness or disease, a sports team in need of new equipment to benefit local young people or a community group that needs financial support for supplies or materials, Community Link Foundation can help those who need it most.
Enda Rylands said: “Over the course of the 2020 and 2021 there has also been some very generous fundraising on behalf of the Community Link Foundation.
“Piers Walsh and the Teeputter’s Golf Group raised funds through the period at various events in the North West.
“EFT Group nominated CLF as their Charity of the Year and many of their team took part in a 5km virtual challenge raising funds. They have now also set up their own Charitable Foundation and we wish them every success with that.
“Nicky Cooper and the Lakeside runners completed a 24 hour challenge around Marine Lake.
“Of course, there are also our amazing annual sponsors – a big thank you to all of them.
“All these efforts along with our Southport Community Lottery have raised just over £53,000 in the last 18 months.
“Of that, £50,000 has directly gone back into our community by way of grants over the period.”
Enda had some special thanks following the sponsors’ lunch.
He said: “I would like to thank Lee Adamson and the team at The Office for a superb meal and service.
“Special thanks also to Dave Barron, Barron Financial Solutions who has kindly sponsored today’s meal so there has been no cost to the charity.”
- For more details about the Community Link Foundation, or how you can join Southport Community Lottery, please visit: www.clfoundation.co.uk
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