The money has been granted to the Somerset Coronavirus Appeal to help support the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

The funds will be administered by the Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), and ring-fenced for people living in the Sedgemoor district of the county, and will be used to support projects such as food banks; activity and play-packs for disadvantaged children and young people, and to support the health and well-being needs of vulnerable people most affected by the crisis across the region.

The funding forms part of the 12 grants, worth £300,000 in total, Magnox has made available to local authorities or charities where a Magnox site is located.

Gwen Parry-Jones, Magnox Chief Executive, said: “Many community groups are carrying out positive work, supporting the most vulnerable in their areas. This work is vital, and a key part of Magnox’s response to COVID-19 is to help other organisations deal with the pandemic wherever we can.

“In this time of national crisis, Magnox has agreed with the NDA that we should make available up to £25,000 at each site from the Magnox Socio-economic Scheme for use by local community groups on COVID-19 related activities. Magnox is committed to assisting the communities surrounding our sites, as our communities have supported us for over 50 years, and we hope this funding will go some way to supporting the essential work being delivered.”

Teresa Harvey, Assistant Director for Housing, Health and Wellbeing at Sedgemoor Council, said: “This is a fantastic gesture from Magnox and we are very grateful indeed.  The funding will help support some of the amazing work that has been going on over the past three months in our communities and will help provide fun things for children (and adults) to do over the summer. 

Justin Sargent, CEO at SCF, added: “We would like to thank Magnox for their support. Their contribution to our Somerset Coronavirus Appeal will be swiftly awarded to local groups and organisations, helping them to continue their good work on the front line, supporting those most in need in our communities.”

SCF recently launched the next phase of their Somerset Coronavirus Appeal in a bid to raise £1.5m for communities across the Somerset.

Justin continued: “In the three months since our appeal was first launched, thanks to the incredible support of local donors like Magnox and the National Emergencies Trust, it has raised more than £800,000 for Somerset. Those donations have meant that so far, grants worth £450,000 have been awarded to over 160 charitable groups across the county, with more being awarded every week.

“We believe that if we can reach our target and award £1.5m in grants we can help our local charities and community groups to weather the financial storm they’re facing now and in the future. The impact of coronavirus on our communities won’t end when lockdown is lifted. Life will be even tougher for those who are already disadvantaged.

“Small, local charities are vital to Somerset’s social fabric and funding from organisations like Magnox will help tackle this disadvantage and keep our communities strong.”