More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
From hospices to addiction and family services, charities across Kent have been crippled by the lockdown as vital fundraising streams dry up, with the most vulnerable likely to suffer.
Now the organisers behind the London Marathon, which was due to take place on Sunday and raised £66.4m last year in donations, have come up with an innovative way to support a charity close to your heart, and you don't have to leave your house, or even your sofa to join in.
To take part in the 2.6 Challenge, which starts on Sunday and lasts a week, you could flip 26 pancakes, juggle or do a plank for 2.6 minutes, to collect donations and raise funds a charity of your choice.
The only requirement is that the activity must follow the government guidelines on exercise and social distancing and you stay local.
Emma Halpin is CEO of Blackthorn Trust, based in Maidstone, which provides support for those struggling with their mental health or chronic pain, through counselling and cooking, gardening and craft workshops.
Since the coronavirus lockdown took hold, the trust, which supports 100 people a week, ranging from 16-year-olds to octogenarians, has lost more than £73,000 in funding and could close, depending on whether the financial situation improves.
Mrs Halpin is one of several charity bosses in Kent urging people to grab their stop watches and take part in the 2.6 Challenge.
She believes that when the pandemic ceases, the trust's bereavement and counselling services will be more important than ever for NHS staff and grieving families who lost a relative to the disease.
Mrs Halpin said: "The floodgates will open. After the pandemic there will be a lot of trauma, particularly for NHS staff and we are ready to respond.
"We are just down the road from Maidstone Hospital and we want to reach out to staff. If someone is passing away in intensive care because of coronavirus, they aren't allowed to have their loved one with them and there is only one nurse there to hold their hand. That could be traumatic."
The amount of funding the trust receives is based on the number workshops and services it carries out. Because of the social distancing restrictions, none of their group sessions are taking place, explaining the sharp drop in funding. The on-site cafe is also shut.
Despite this, Mrs Halpin says they are helping the same number of people as before and in a week the trust carried out 70 telephone counselling sessions.
The charity is also recording sessions on YoutTube where tips are given on how to get through the current crises.
Three weeks ago, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £750m package to keep charities afloat, but Mrs Halpin says this is "far from enough".
"They haven't actually launched how we will be able to apply for funding yet. Some funding that has been released, although it run in to the millions, when it's actually disseminated it isn't much.
"That's why we are asking local people to save a charity. We need them to be our heroes at home."
Rehab charity, Kenward Trust, based in Yalding, is also urging people to have a go at 2.6 Challenge, so they can continue helping those battling a drugs or alcohol addiction.
As well as rehabilitation centre, the trust runs Kenward Lodge, a project for those struggling to get treatment in their community because of homelessness or living in conditions which might not be aid their recovery.
Penny Williams, CEO of Kenward Trust said:
“COVID-19 has negatively affected many charities across the UK, with Kenward Trust being included. We are seeing an increased demand for our services but have had to shut our commercial enterprise, Kenward Place and seen a drop in fundraising income.
"The 2.6 Challenge is a great way for people to support their local charities from home and we would greatly appreciate any support from this campaign.”
To find out more about the 2.6 Challenge and get involved, click here.
