COMMUNITIES and businesses affected by Covid-19 will benefit from a £5 million funding pledge from the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

Grants of around £1.5 million have been offered from the authority's Covid-19 Capacity fund to Northumberland County Council, North Tyneside Council, and Newcastle City Council to meet the need they see locally.

Working with key partners, the Capacity Fund will help address local priorities, which are not being met by national Government support.

North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll said: “This delivers targeted help where it’s really needed, fast.

“North of Tyne has worked with our local authorities to develop a response that will help those falling through the gaps of national schemes.

“Our local knowledge helps us to help people in a way that central government can't. We're helping our workforce, our community and voluntary sectors, and our local businesses who need help now."

The North of Tyne Covid-19 Response Fund will be used to help support some of the businesses that are missing out on Government grants, connect people to jobs and retraining, and revitalise the city centre and our towns and high streets.

Each of the local authorities will identify how best to help people who need Covid-19 recovery cash quickly.

North of Tyne Cabinet Member for Education Improvement and Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council coun. Wayne Daley, said: “We’ve been working closely with our businesses and our residents throughout this crisis, and we know the pandemic is having a devastating impact on many.

“Therefore it’s really important to us that any additional packages of support meet the specific needs of all our communities to support recovery, and target help where it’s needed most.

“Securing these additional funds is fantastic news, and means we can now strengthen our response to the Covid crisis, and get help to those who are in desperate need during these dark days, and support our road of recovery.

“Credit is due to those who have worked together so effectively to ensure this resource is brought to bear without delay.”