Struggling Royal Navy families to be boosted by new £100k hardship fund from Barclays

Barclays has approved the windfall for Portsmouth’s own Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC).

The huge surge in funding comes after the naval institution spent a whopping £600,000 helping military families during the past year.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, 190 grants have been approved by the RNRMC as part of its hardship fund.

The cash was hailed as a ‘lifeline’ for naval families by RNRMC's director of fundraising, Alasdair Akass, helping pay for funerals and critical improvement to naval care homes to protect veterans from Covid-19.

The latest money from Barclays has gone back into the hardship fund – with about £35,000 already put to use in supporting key projects.

Mandy Lindley, director of relationships and funding at the RNRMC thanked Barclays for its support and said: ‘We are very grateful for such generous support in this difficult year, and this donation has allowed us to deliver essential aid to Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel, their families and veterans.’

Almost £25,000 of the donation was put to action immediately, providing computer equipment to 348 Royal Navy and Royal Marines families in financial difficulties, ensuring that children could keep up with homeschooling during lockdown.

A further £10,000 went to Erskine, a delivery partner of the RNRMC which provides nursing and residential care for elderly veterans in Scotland.

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The cash was used to install thermal imaging equipment in four homes and an activity centre in an effort to spot those who may be infected with Covid-19 before they enter the sites.

Additional cash has also been earmarked for counselling services and support for bereaved service children, essential items for veterans living in supported accommodation and help for the family of a sailor stranded in the UK, unable to travel home to St Vincent.

Nigel Higgins, Barclays chairman, said: ‘Covid-19 has created an unprecedented social and economic impact in the UK, with many experiencing greater hardship due to the crisis. Incredible charities such as RNRMC have been playing a vital role in the UK’s response to the pandemic, ensuring urgent help reaches those most in need of support.

‘As a bank we have been doing all we can for our customers, clients and colleagues, and we hope that by partnering with RNRMC and many other charities across the UK, collectively we can ensure that as many people as possible in the communities in which we live and work are supported through this crisis.’

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