Do you need an urgent cash injection for your small or micro business? South Hams District Council is calling on eligible businesses to apply now for a share of government funding before money runs out.

If your business was trading on 11 March this year and you can show a major fall in income due to Covid-19, you could be prioritised for funding support.

To be eligible for a grant ranging from £1,000 to £25,000, you should not have qualified for any other grant, other than the furloughed Job Retention Scheme or the Self‐Employed Income Support Scheme.

In line with government requirements, the following business types will be prioritised for funding support:

• Tourism based businesses who fit the criteria above;
• Food, drink and hospitality supply chain;
• Marine sector – such as ferry companies, sailing schools, power boat schools and marine services such as boat servicing. Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces.
• Regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment;
• Bed and Breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; and
• Charity properties in receipt of Charitable Business Rates Relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.

Leader of South Hams District Council, Cllr Judy Pearce, said: “So far in our first batch of payments, we’ve already paid out £630,000 and we’re eager to support many more small businesses in the South Hams, but you need to act quickly before the funds run out.

“We urge you to get in touch if you fit the funding criteria and we’ll work quickly to get the money to you.”

Unfortunately, those not eligible for funding under this scheme include:

• Small businesses with a turnover of more than £10.2 million, balance sheet of more than £5.1 million and more than 50 staff
• Micro businesses with a turnover of more than £632,000, balance sheet of more than £316,000 with more than 10 staff
• Businesses who were not trading on 11 March 2020
• Businesses currently in administration or insolvent
• Businesses whose property rent, mortgage payments and rateable value is above the threshold of £51,000.

The Council will be checking all claims against previously approved grants, data held on file and with HM Revenue and Customs records. Any business caught falsifying their records to gain grant money will face prosecution and any funding issued will be reclaimed.

If a business believes it fits the criteria stated, they can apply for funding via the Council’s website.

Please ensure you have the corresponding supporting documents at hand before you start the application, including bank statement for March this year, latest set of accounts, HMRC Self-assessment with a cash flow forecast. You may also need a Tenancy Agreement, if applicable.

Please take care when entering details and especially numbers; incorrect information provided could significantly delay your grant.  Please check your bank account details carefully – we will not be able to pay a discretionary grant twice, so if you provide incorrect bank details, you may not receive the grant if we cannot reclaim the original payment.

To find out more and to apply for the Discretionary Grants, visit:
www.southhams.gov.uk/discretionarygrants

Recent ONS analysis has shown that during the first month of lockdown, the equivalent of 7.4 million people said that their wellbeing was affected through loneliness.

They were more likely than others to struggle to find things to help them cope, and were less likely to feel that they had support networks to fall back on.

As restrictions have started to ease, and more people are going back to work and school, important social connections will slowly re-build.

But the effects of loneliness for some will be longer-lasting. There are many people who haven’t been able to return to their daily lives yet, or who have to self isolate, and will continue to need support.

This week is Loneliness Awareness Week. Charities and private sector organisations have got together to organise online events and offer tips on how you can help someone who may be lonely.

Here are some ways that you can get involved in Loneliness Awareness Week.

Directly from Devon County Council Newsletter 18 June 2020