Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF) will launch a digital raffle next week raising money for local women who have been adversely affected by the pandemic.
The raffle opens on 1 September and celebrates 20 years of the BLCF as a local grant maker. It will run over six weeks, with the grand prize draw taking place on Wednesday 13 October 2021.
Regarding the impact of COVID-19 on women’s employment, BLCF’s Chair of Trustees, Viviane Vayssieres, said: “Although it might be presumed this is just a temporary setback, women who lessened their workload during lockdown may now find it harder to return to pre-pandemic work levels given the recession the UK is currently facing.”
They plan to invest straight back into the community with bursaries and support to help women:
- retrain
- upskill
- start a business with financial help
According to statistics supplied by Shoesmiths;
- Women are more likely to work in sectors forced to shut down, such as hospitality (23% of women vs 16% men in these industries)
- Mothers were 47% more likely to have permanently lost their jobs or resigned as a result of COVID-19
The foundation have already secured £53,000. They aim to raise £160,000 “to provide women with bursaries to help improve their lives long-term and offer greater choices and opportunities.”
CEO for BLCF, Karen Perkins, said women “remain a focus and priority” to the foundation. She said they wanted their anniversary raffle to encourage donations so they could “deliver care and hope to those most in need.”
Karen said:“We’ve seen a worrying increase in the demands placed on women’s groups as they struggle to find work, feed and educate young families, not to mention the need to escape domestic abuse and exploitation.
“As a place-based Community Foundation, we pride ourselves on understanding local needs and taking appropriate action.”
BLCF is a grant maker supporting local community groups and charities. It focuses on providing accessible funding based on a deep understanding of community needs. It aim to be a catalyst for social change for the community of Bedfordshire and Luton. They collect funds from local businesses and individuals to give to the local charities most in need.
In keeping with their outlook of “Local Focus. Real Change” the three star prizes have been locally sourced.
Top prizes are:
- 1st Prize – £1,000 cash prize for you or a charity of your choice
- 2nd Prize – A one year fitness membership to Inspire Luton Sports Village worth £390
- 3rd Prize – An exclusive Ladies Burnt Orange Winter Fedora with Grosgrain Bow, made by The Queen’s Milliner, Rachel Trevor-Morgan, worth £225
The foundation decided to go digital with the event so that, due to covid restrictions, people could take part from the safety of their own home.
To take part in the raffle and find out more about the BCLF, head to their website.
