SOUTH West Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison has welcomed funding packages for six Covid-19 charities operating in his constituency.

Part of the Government’s response to the pandemic has been a £750 million support package to ensure voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors can still operate.

More than 13,000 charities across the country received direct funding towards continuing their work.

The funding complemented other support programmes, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The total figure was broken down into multiple schemes, including a £200m Coronavirus Community Support Fund – designed to buttress small and medium sized charities.

Of this, £183,295 was received by six local charities including, Collaborative Schools in Trowbridge, HELP Counselling Services in Trowbridge, the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre near Warminster, Larkrise Community Farm in Trowbridge, Vehicles for Change, and the Fairfield Farm Trust at Dilton Marsh.

Dr Murrison said: “I’m very glad the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport applied to the Government earlier in the year for this grant and that the money was secured.

“The grants given through the Coronavirus Community Support Fund have especially helped to prop up vital bastions of charity within the local community.”