THREE Maldon district charities have received a boost from a government pandemic fund to help them keep going through the current crisis.

Action For Family Carers, based in Brickhouse Farm, Maldon, supports both children and adults who are family carers across the county – work that has been especially critical in the pandemic.

The charity, which provides information, befriending, counselling, volunteering opportunities and respite day care, has so far received £97,000 from from the Government's Coronavirus Community Support Fund. The cash is to help it continue providing lifeline services and support at a time when life has been particularly difficult for those who provide unpaid – often round-the-clock – care for a family member.

The Dengie Project Trust at the Knightswood Day Care Centre in Hall Road, Southminster, provides care and respite services for adults in the Dengie area and beyond. The services provided are for people for whom life has become difficult through ill health or age. The vital work of the charity has been supported with £5,522 from the fund.

And the Abberton Rural Training Centre (ART) at Stow Maries is an educational charity providing practical and skills training alongside therapeutic support for residents of Essex and the surrounding areas.

The charity's courses have a special focus on rural skills and provide life and employability skills training, helping people into jobs, further education and training or volunteering in the local community. ART has received £9,865 from the pandemic fund.

Maldon MP John Whittingdale said: "Charities are playing a vital role in supporting vulnerable people through the Covid crisis. I am delighted that, as well as the national charities, these local voluntary organisations are getting help from the Government to help them to continue their work."