A CAMPAIGN by businessman and Carden Park owner Steve Morgan to help charities affected during COVID-19 has handed out nearly £2 million and helped more than 500,000 people during its first two weeks.

In March, the founder of the Steve Morgan Foundation pledged to give £1 million a week to charities battling to help some of the most vulnerable sectors of society cope with the coronavirus.

Steve, who is the founder of housebuilder Redrow and former owner of Wolverhampton Wanderers, said the money had been split between charities and good causes across Cheshire, North Wales and Merseyside.

"At close of play on Friday we'd given out £1.73m to 139 applications but the team were working throughout the weekend so we'll top £2 million on Monday," he said

"We know we've directly benefited 585,000 people facing a range of problems including homelessness, food poverty, mental health and social isolation but this is the tip of the iceberg.

"When I pledged £1 million-a-week for an initial 12 weeks I said we were at war against coronavirus and nothing has changed my mind. It's a war.

"The NHS continues to do a magnificent job but the charities are largely being forgotten and as the economy shrinks it will be the charities and the vulnerable people who suffer first and we can't allow that to happen.

"I set the Steve Morgan Foundation up in 2001 and our small but dedicated team has been magnificent in approving applications as part of our COVID-19 Emergency Fund and paying the money into bank accounts as quickly as possible."

Awards vary from a few hundred pounds to £150,000, but Mr Morgan said the key was being able to turn them around quickly.

Steve said he hoped other entrepreneurs and philanthropists would follow his lead.

"The Steve Morgan Foundation is an enabler," he added. "We work directly with charities in the front line.

"Unfortunately, the Foundation can't help charities outside of our catchment area, as much as we might want to, which is why we're appealing to other entrepreneurs and philanthropists across the UK to step up to the plate."

Charities in Cheshire, North Wales and Merseyside looking for emergency funding should go to tfaforms.com/4811567

To check the criteria, go to stevemorganfoundation.org.uk