Covid Aid Monthly Update: January 2023

Photo by Csaba Talaber on Unsplash

It has been a busy start to the year for us, as we officially became an award-winning charity and expanded our team. In addition to this, we have now provided support to over 250,000 people in the UK, affected by Long Covid, bereavement, anxiety, and a range of related issues.

You can see the headlines directly below, and please do visit the Support Community, check out our latest Advice & Info articles, and see how else you can get involved.

The headlines!

Over the past month we:

  • Appointed a new Executive Director: Joyce Gray joined Covid Aid and founder, Michael MacLennan moved into the position of chair

  • Celebrated reaching over 250K people in the UK: We hit another huge milestone reaching over 250,000 people in the UK with advice, information and support 

  • Our Support Community won “Best New Community” at the CMX Awards: This recognition was given to Covid Aid due to our significant growth and success in 2022

  • Gavin Perret joins the board as trustee: Gavin worked fantastically with the Covid Aid team as a charity ambassador and has now moved into his new role as trustee

Support Community

Awarded “Best New Community” by CMX Awards

The industry leader for online communities, CMX awarded Covid Aid with the recognition of "Best New Community" due to its significant growth and success in 2022.

We now have over 1,300 members who use the online space for support with Covid-19 issues. Members can discuss the problems they are facing and take part in tailored online courses, expert Q&As, and group sessions. They can also access a range of supportive resources on a range of issues which those significantly affected by Covid face on a daily basis. You can read more about this achievement in our announcement here.

Charity News

Joyce Gray is appointed as Executive Director at Covid Aid

Joyce joining the team has been a real turning point for the charity. She brings a wealth of experience from her senior roles including at Alzheimer’s Scotland which will aid the progress of the charity and further the support it offers. Joyce said:

“I am so looking forward to becoming part of the small but amazing team at Covid Aid.  A new Charity with an abundance of ambition, underpinned by the outstanding support they have already delivered to communities across the United Kingdom.

This is an exciting time to start, with new projects and innovative models of support being developed. I hope to bring my skills in supporting and growing new projects and initiatives to ensure the growth and success of this work.

Covid touched all our lives, and as some move on, there are thousands of people still living with the lasting impacts of the disease, or great personal loss.  It is our ambition to provide a supportive community, and innovative support models and share the stories of those whose lives we endeavour to touch with our work.

I have had a long career in the third sector, my last role as Deputy Director with Alzheimer Scotland, where I was responsible for driving all the innovation and development for the organisation, with some success.

I am committed to ensuring that I bring the same level of passion and enthusiasm to this role, and relish the prospect of the new challenge.”

Read more about Joyce’s appointment

Along with the new appointment, Covid Aid also strengthened the board with founder Michael MacLennan moving into the position of Chair, and Gavin Perrett joining the board as a trustee.

Gavin Perrett joins the board as Trustee

Gavin previously worked with the Covid Aid team as a charity ambassador. As he moves into his new role as trustee, we are certain that his 25 years of experience in business and his own personal experiences with Covid-19 will continue to aid in the growth of our charity, helping us expand our service offerings and reach more people affected by Covid-19 related issues.

You can find out more about Gavin here.

Advice and Information

Reaching over 250,000 people with our advice, information and support content is a mammoth achievement for our charity. We couldn’t do it without our fantastic volunteers who provide in-depth research and produce articles for us on a range of topics, relating to Covid-19 and the issues those significantly affected face.

New articles

Our Content team continues to publish up-to-date and relevant Advice & Info, including important articles from our writers Mo, Frances, and others. Here is a selection that you might be interested in: 


Fundraising

Hannah Mark is raising money for Covid Aid as she runs the London Landmarks Half Marathon in memory of her Papa who she lost to Covid-19. 

From all of us at Covid Aid, we wish Hannah the very best of luck for the run in April. Her fundraising will help us continue to support those who have been significantly affected by Covid-19. You can read Hannah's story and support here.

This January…

We continue to be incredibly grateful for your support, which allows us to support people who have been significantly impacted by Covid-19. Please spread the word to your family, friends, and businesses, and get involved however you can – we are here to support those struggling.

Covid Aid is reliant on YOUR donations to provide support to those hit by Long Covid, grief and bereavement, and other Covid-related issues

DONATE NOW