THE Government’s announcement that charities struggling during the coronavirus crisis will be given a £750 million bailout has been welcomed by many. But it has left out some organisations - including those which rescue abused and abandoned animals and provide respite for pet-owners with the virus.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced that charities will be given the unprecedented cash injection to keep them afloat and ensure they meet increased demand as a result of the pandemic.

Some £360 million direct from Government departments will go to charities providing key services, while smaller charities will benefit from £370 million, which includes a grant through the National Lottery Community Fund.

Tens of thousands of charities are expected to benefit. Mr Sunak said: “Our charities are playing a crucial role in the national fight against coronavirus, supporting those who are most in need. For them, shutting up shop at this moment would be to contravene their very purpose.

He added: “At this time, when many are hurting and tired and confined, we need the gentleness of charities in our lives. It gives us hope, makes us stronger and reminds us we depend on each other.”

But nature and conservation charities say the sum is insufficient to allow them to keep tackling climate change during the pandemic. Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “People’s health and wellbeing is paramount, so it is essential that we address the coronavirus crisis, but we mustn’t at the same time forget the very serious risks posed by the collapse of our natural world. Otherwise, as a society, we’ll just find ourselves lurching from one crisis to the next.”

And animal charities, many of them small independent organisations, won’t benefit from the cash bailout. Sara Atkinson, founder of Yorkshire Cat Rescue, based at Cross Roads near Keighley, said the charity is struggling at a time when it is needed most, and now faces an uncertain future.

“Given the current Covid-19 crisis we are also trying to provide a respite service to those people who end up in hospital because of the virus,” she said. “The Government’s statement concerning a package to support charities was welcomed by many - but for animal charities such as Yorkshire Cat Rescue, the content was disappointing.

“There is obviously a need for the Government to support charities working at the frontline of the epidemic, but many organisations working behind the scenes are often overlooked. We are responding to appeals to offer respite care to cats owned by people who are unable to take care of them - and this comes at a cost. We want to provide a service so people fighting this virus don’t have to worry about the welfare of their beloved cats, but we can’t help indefinitely if we’re not given central support.

“I founded the charity in 1992, it has always been able to find funds to run a good service, but I have very real doubts that it will continue to thrive beyond this epidemic if Government support isn’t forthcoming.”

The charity also fears an increase in the number of cats being abandoned following reports about the transfer of the virus from humans to cats. “Misleading information just adds to the pressure we’re under, and we are having to divert our much-stretched resources to responding to desperate queries about the safety of keeping cats,” said Sara.

Cat rescues across the district, already battling a stray cat and kitten crisis, are facing dwindling donations, having closed shops and cancelled fundraising events. Helen Sharp of Allerton Cat Rescue said: “There is a terrible problem with stray cats and kittens in Bradford, at this time of year we get a lot of messages about pregnant strays. Many people don’t get their cats neutered.

“People like to have kittens but they get handed to children as playthings and often end up as strays. Cats can get pregnant at five-months-old and have three litters a year. Last year we had to close just to take in pregnant cats. We went round hotspots in Bradford picking them up - we rescued 16 cats from one house.

“Because of lockdown, we’re not getting the donations we need and we can’t go round the streets picking up cats like we did.”

Allerton Cat Rescue was set up over 40 years ago. Monthly running costs are around £600 and £7,000 for vet bills. Last year the organisation rescued 925 cats and kittens - a 27per cent rise from 2018.

There is some hope for smaller charities with a campaign set up by organisers of the UK’s biggest sports events. The 2.6 Challenge will launch on Sunday - what should have been the London Marathon, which raised £66.4 million for charities in 2019. Nic Willis of Yorkshire Cat Rescue said: “We’re asking people to create a 2.6 Challenge to raise funds or pledge a donation. It’s open to anyone of any age - the only requirement is that the activity must follow Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing. You can run or walk 2.6 miles, 2.6km or for 26 minutes.

“You could do it in your home or garden, go up and downstairs 26 times, juggle for 2.6 minutes, do a 26-minute exercise class or get 26 people on a video call workout. We want people to get active, have fun and raise money to help us survive through the pandemic.”

l For more on the 2.6 Challenge, visit twopointsixchallenge.co.uk

l For more about Yorkshire Cat Rescue’s respite for people hospitalised by coronavirus email mail@yorkshirecatrescue.org, call (01535) 647184 or visit yorkshirecatrescue.org.