Community groups in Harrow can bid for grants up to £5,000 to help support the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine among vulnerable groups.

Harrow Council has encouraged applications to its Community Champions scheme, which has benefitted from £495,000 worth of funding from the Government.

Grants will be used to support communication around the Covid-19 vaccination programme, including tackling misinformation and encouraging uptake, as well as a wider push to encourage people to continue to follow NHS and government guidance around the virus.

The funding is intended to aid those most at risk from Covid-19, including older people, disabled people, members of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and those who are harder to reach, such as homeless people.

Packages between £300 and £5,000 are available, thought the council said it would consider larger bids up to £10,000 where “an organisation can demonstrate a need for additional funding; for example, to communicate with a larger number of people or where engagement is more complex”.

Cllr Krishna Suresh, who is responsible for community cohesion at Harrow Council, said: “It will play a very important part in the battle against the virus as we seek to encourage people to take the vaccine, tackle misinformation and encourage safer behaviours that can help to keep coronavirus under control.

“I would urge voluntary, community and faith organisations to take this opportunity to lead positive change and get bidding for these grants. We can all make a difference in the battle against the virus.”

An initial deadline for applications has been set for 10am on February 10, with forms available at forms.gle/QDcTSCAesQ5FqLF4A or harrowgiving.org.uk/harrow-covid-19-awareness-fund/