1/ One of our greatest strengths as a country is our civil society. The local charities who provide so much compassion, care and community to the most vulnerable in our country. You have not been forgotten.

Today I am announcing £750m of funding for the charity sector.

2/ £370m of that funding will support small, local charities working with vulnerable people.

In England, this support will be provided through organisations like the National Lottery Communities Fund.

3/ We will allocate £60m of this funding through the Barnett formula to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

4/ The UK government will also provide £360m directly to charities providing essential services and supporting vulnerable people, as we battle the coronavirus.

5/ Up to £200m of those grants will support hospices.

The rest will go to organisations like St Johns’ Ambulance and the Citizens Advice Bureau, as well as charities supporting vulnerable children, victims of domestic abuse, or disabled people.

6/ And last night the BBC announced their ‘Big Night In’ charity appeal on April 23rd.

Today I can confirm that the government will match pound for pound whatever the public decides to donate, starting with at least £20m to the National Emergencies Trust appeal.

7/ At this time, when many are hurting and tired and confined, we need the gentleness of charity in our lives.

It gives us hope.

It makes us stronger.

It reminds us: we depend on each other.