Since its launch on May 1, the hardship fund has received £173,275 in donations including £100,000 from Aberdeen City Council via the Common Good Fund.

The Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust met on Wednesday 13 May to consider 51 applications to the Hardship Fund from which 24 local registered charities were successful in this first round of allocation of funding.

The 24 charities will be revealed as soon as all 51 applicants have been informed of the outcome.

Grants range from £35,000 to £2,000 and all money will go directly to supporting individuals and families by providing food, nappies, clothing, toiletries, energy costs, equipment for clients, or small hardship payments. Amongst those to receive support are particularly vulnerable and at-risk groups including those in poverty or ill health, disabled, ethnic minorities, unemployed, children and young people, older people, and others particularly affected by the crisis.

It is estimated that this round of funding will support approximately 3,640 individuals and 630 families with over 5,000 food parcels and 20,000 meals being provided.

Donations are still being sought and a special crowdfunding page on www.aberdeencovid19.org allows anyone anywhere to donate to the cause.

Any organisation or individual wishing to discuss making a sizable donation can email lordprovost@aberdeencity.gov.uk marking it for the attention of Garry Watson, Clerk to The Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust.

100% of all donations received will go directly to helping those experiencing genuine hardship in Aberdeen due to COVID-19.

The Fund will now remain open for applications until 11.59pm on Friday 29 May 2020 and further decisions on funding will be made in early June. Charities who wish to make an application should go to www.aberdeencovid19.org/apply for further information and advice.

The special hardship fund is a partnership between The Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust, The Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council.

It followed a request to the Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett, from The Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen and a local businessperson, for the Charitable Trust, to be used as a vehicle to create a hardship fund for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lord Provost said: “On behalf of the Charitable Trust I would like to thank everyone who has donated to the hardship fund so far and urge others to consider doing so too.

“There are a great many charities out there that need our support and the hardship fund has shown that it can raise money and disburse it very quickly to local registered charities here in Aberdeen. By doing so we can reach our citizens who are most in need due to the pandemic. Together we can get through this.”

• Read all of our articles relating to COVID-19 here.