Hundreds of south Cumbrian businesses and charities have received much-needed cash boosts in the past week after successful applications to the government’s Discretionary Grants Fund.

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) has approved 495 grants of either £10,000, £8,000 or £6,000 – representing grants worth a total of just under £3.5m. There were 578 applications.

The scheme was aimed at supporting small businesses which were not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Fund, prioritising small and micro businesses with fixed property-related costs who were able to demonstrate that they had suffered a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Councillor Robin Ashcroft, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: “Our validations team worked extremely hard to process every application received in a very short space of time and we are happy that these grants are now hitting businesses’ bank accounts – providing much-needed financial relief in these very difficult times.

“SLDC has been proud to play a part in getting these grants, and money from other schemes, where it is needed. Added to that, members and officers are doing all they can to support businesses, including working with partners on the reopening of town centres in a safe way or through our newly-established economic recovery and renewal group.”

“Decisions on grants were based on fixed business property costs, loss of turnover, and employee numbers.”