Greenwich giving out grants to community groups to stop spread of misinformation

Greenwich residents who are most at risk from COVID-19 will receive extra help to protect themselves, their families and communities thanks to £720,000 funding.

It aims to help all residents plus specific groups share information about the virus with friends, family and local community networks, reducing the amount of misinformation and listing the support available.

One of seven London boroughs to receive this funding following a successful bid to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, over a six-month period, the cash is to:

• tackle the double disadvantage of catching and sharing the virus and being digitally excluded by developing solutions to receive, understand and share key COVID-19 messages. This will include ways to improve access to and affordability of smart devices and high-speed internet connection.
• enable residents in high-risk communities to have a direct say in how local money is spent to help reduce the impact of COVID-19.
• increase the number of Community Champions from 264 and Neighbourhood Champions from 80 to 1,000-plus.
• expand our deep engagement work in communities to increase the number of neighbourhoods involved (from three to six) and identify additional communities to work with.

Cllr Adel Khaireh, cabinet member for communities and said: “It’s key that all communities have their say in how we can work together to protect those most at risk by building trust, communicating accurate health information and ultimately helping to save lives. This funding for our Community Champions initiative will go some way to achieving this, in addition to our ongoing work with partners, businesses and residents across Royal Greenwich.”