Gretton-based charity vows to carry on despite coronavirus crisis

The Travers Foundation helps young people living in Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland with funding to realise their dreams in sport, music and arts.
Terry Forsey founder of the Travers Foundation with Dr Sarah Furness, the Lord Lieutenant of RutlandTerry Forsey founder of the Travers Foundation with Dr Sarah Furness, the Lord Lieutenant of Rutland
Terry Forsey founder of the Travers Foundation with Dr Sarah Furness, the Lord Lieutenant of Rutland

A volunteer-run charity has vowed to carry on supporting the young people that it currently funds but has warned funding may have to be revised as the Covid-19 lockdown continues.

The Travers Foundation, based in Gretton, helps young people aged between 13 and 30 living in Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland with funding to realise their dreams in sport, music and art.

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As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, the charity has said that the funding team will not be considering any new applications for support.

Terry Forsey, founder and chairman of The Travers Foundation, said: "We work with young people all the time at The Travers Foundation and appreciate that this is an extremely worrying time for them, with exams cancelled, schools shut and so much uncertainty in their lives.

"That's why we wanted to reassure the young people we currently support that we will continue supporting them.

"We didn't want to put looking at new funding applications on hold, but with so many events worldwide being postponed, restrictions on coaching and training in place, and arts venues cancelling programmes, we had to take a pragmatic approach."

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The decison to suspend applications has come after sporting events worldwide were stopped, and the temporary closures of arts venues.

No new applications will be considered until at least June 2020. No retrospective funding applications will be considered and these must be for events from July 2020 onwards only.

The Travers Foundation showcase, 'Living Your Dream', featuring many of the talented young sports people and artists supported by the charity, has been postponed from its original date of May 1 and has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at The Core at Corby Cube.

This event, being created in conjunction with the team at The Core at Corby Cube, and members of the Core Theatre's Youth Advisory Panel who will be responsible for planning and producing the whole showcase.

'Living Your Dream' is being sponsored by M R Industrial Services Ltd of Corby.

For further information on the work of the Travers Foundation please visit www.travers-foundation.org.uk.