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Coronavirus North East Creatives' Hardship Fund

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** WE ARE OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS **

Further to our fundraising efforts and the generosity of those who have so far donated to this cause, and despite not yet reaching our full target, we are keen to begin distributing these hardship funds as soon as possible. Our original target was to raise enough funds to offer 10 grants of £200, however given the amount we have raised so far, we want to ensure that we use it wisely to offer help to as many people as possible. We have therefore made the decision to offer 8 grants of £150. 

If we receive any more generous donations, then we will then open the fund up again to accept further applications. 

To apply for the North East Creatives' Hardship Fund, please fill in the short form via the link below. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Sunday 19th April. 

https://form.jotform.com/200764629544359

We will then pick names from a hat at random to determine the 8 recipients of the fund. 

Eligibility Criteria:

This fund is open and available to any freelancer who works in the creative sector who is living and working in the North East. We recognise that the transparency of this fund may result in individuals trying to take advantage of the support on offer, however we are hopeful that honesty will prevail and that this money will go to the people who need it the most. Please therefore only apply to this fund if you are in a difficult position and truly need financial support at this time.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Daneka and David xx

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The UK cultural sector is being severely affected by the government's current response to the Covid-19 pandemic; having advised the public not to attend pubs, bars, cinemas or theatres, yet not forcing a shutdown which would enable these organisations to claim insurance to protect themselves during this incredibly difficult time.

However, as challenging as the current situation is for organisations, it is even more so for financially precarious, self-employed creatives. They face the prospect of no employment and no income over the coming months, with no information on when the lockdown might be lifted.

For those working in theatre, their jobs altruistically depend on the ability to bring communities together to experience extraordinary live performance, improving health and wellbeing across the country. For those working in film and television, nearly all filming has been suspended, and many projects which were in production have been paused.

David Loumgair and Daneka Etchells have therefore joined forces as proudly working-class creatives from the North East to do their bit, and to try and support financially precarious, self-employed creatives who are living and working in the North East during this pandemic.

In the first instance, we are deeply hopeful of your generous donations enabling us to raise money for a 'Coronavirus North East Creatives’ Hardship Fund'.

Our initial ambition is to offer up to 10 grants of £200 to creatives who are living and working in the North East, and who require urgent financial assistance due to hardship, loss of employment and additional challenges.

If we gratefully end up raising more than the target of £2000, additional hardship funds will then be made available.

This fund is open and available to any freelancer who works in the creative sector who lives and works in the North East. The transparency of this fund could result in individuals exploiting this, but we are hoping that honesty will prevail and that this money will go to the people who need it the most.

The North East is a place of utter resilience. We are proudly known for our values of open-heartedness, generosity and community support. We prioritise kindness, togetherness and selflessness during times of great hardship. We create work up here which is raw and real, made by regular working people. We create art by the people, for the people. People would give their last quid to make people smile. So, if you can, please spare a quid back and help some very vulnerable people through a difficult time.

We’ll all be spending our social distancing and self isolation times engaging with arts and culture, whether it be Netflix, a tv show, music, books, painting, creating, filming... it’s human catharsis. Bear that in mind.

No personal profit will be made from this, nor will we use any of this cash ourselves, despite being financially precarious, self-employed creative workers ourselves. This fund is simply to help try and keep our fellow artists afloat.

In the meantime, stay warm, well and safe. Thanks for all your well wishes, support and love in advance.

Daneka and David xx

Fundraising team (2)

Daneka Etchells
Organiser
Raised £90 from 5 donations
David Loumgair
Team member
Raised £15 from 1 donation

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