As the COVID-19 crisis gripped the UK last year, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) received a timely donation of £100,000, thanks to Barclays. The generous funding was part of Barclays’ 100x100 COVID-19 Community Relief Programme and it allowed the RNRMC to provide vital support to the Royal Navy community during the pandemic.
As the principal charity of the Royal Navy, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity exists to support sailors, marines and their families, for life. By working directly with the Royal Navy, as well as a military and civilian delivery partners, the RNRMC provides a wide range of support and services to the Royal Navy community across the UK and beyond. Barclays’ £100,000 donation has been specifically used to help organisations and individuals who applied for emergency support through the RNRMC’s Hardship Fund, which was created in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
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. This was essential to ensuring that children were able to take part in home-schooling and not fall behind on their education.
A further £10,000 went to Erskine, a delivery partner of the RNRMC who provide nursing and residential care for elderly veterans in Scotland. The money was used by Erskine to purchase thermal imaging equipment for their four homes and their Activities Centre. The thermal imaging system is calibrated to detect small temperature increases in people entering their buildings, which will ensure that those with a raised temperature do not enter, reducing the possible risk of COVID-19 transmission. This was hugely important as Erskine began to welcome visitors again and to re-opened their Activities Centre. The equipment will also have significant long-term benefits for infection control at Erskine as it will help to detect any future variants of coronavirus, norovirus, or seasonal flu.
Money also went towards counselling services and other professional 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.
Mandy Lindley, Director of Relationships and Funding at the RNRMC said: “On behalf of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity I would like to say a huge thank you to Barclays for their kind donation of £100,000. 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.”
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.”
