A RYEDALE charity has received £14,966 to help pay for its running costs during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sight Support Ryedale received the grant from the Two Ridings Community Foundation, which provide funding for small, community projects in North and East Yorkshire.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the grants provided by Two Ridings have allowed groups to continue their services, despite an increase in demand and decrease in funding.

The number of grants awarded by the foundation in the last six months is equivalent to what it would normally achieve in 18 months - totalling £1,541,399.

“The Two Ridings Community Foundation has always been a great supporter of Sight Support Ryedale,” said Julie Atkinson, service manager at Sight Support Ryedale

“The charity is the only voluntary sight loss organisation in the rural area of Ryedale.

“Many of our sight impaired members have told us that, during the coronavirus pandemic, their eye condition has deteriorated further due to the cancellation of routine eye treatments at local hospitals.

“Our recently awarded grant of £14,966 will enable us to implement a Sight Loss MOT service, a consistent, holistic and person-centred sight assessment process which also uncovers any other unmet needs such as loneliness and mental health issues.”

A recent survey in North Yorkshire, York and the Humber area indicated 57 per cent of charities had experienced a drop in income, and 41 per cent were concerned about their survival beyond the next few months.

The funding by is part of the £750 million pot announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak for frontline charities across the UK.

Other organisations to receive a grant from Two Ridings include Home Start Craven, Trinity Centre in Whitby and Scarborough YMCA.

“Four months on from the beginning of lockdown, groups are now turning their thoughts from emergency response to the future,” added Jackie McCafferty, programme manager at Two Ridings Community Foundation.

“At the Community Foundation, we are trying to support the key community organisations whose survival will be so vital in the coming months and years to ensure that no one gets left behind in the wake of this crisis. We will not be able to fund every group, but we will do our damnedest to provide all the support we can.”