A FLINTSHIRE man is one of the one million people who has been helped by the Steve Morgan Foundation emergency fund.

Since it was launched in March, the Covid-19 emergency fund has helped one million people, including 51-year-old David Williams from Aston.

David Williams says going to RainbowBiz CIC nine years ago changed his life.

The social enterprise works with the most marginalised members of the North Wales community and is largely funded by its Hippy Shop in Mold.

He said: “I live on my own and before going to RainbowBiz CIC I had a debt problem and an issue with depression. RainbowBiz helped me through that. I no longer have a problem with debt and they’re like part of my family.

“Since then I’ve become a volunteer at the Hippy Shop on Saturday and really enjoy it.”

However when Covid-19 struck they had to close their Hippy Shop and needed a £10,000 grant from the Steve Morgan Foundation to help them through the financial crisis.

It meant David suddenly found himself isolated so the social enterprise carried on contacting members and launched a weekly online social meet-up on Zoom so people restricted to their home could carry on socialising.

He added: "Seeing people and staying connected really helps with isolation. We have a Zoom social event every Friday when we can all meet up.

"The help from the Steve Morgan Foundation was a godsend and lifted everyone’s spirits. Being able to continue a virtue service has been really helpful. We’re looking to get back to normal, whatever that looks like."

Philanthropist and businessman Steve Morgan announced in March he would be giving up to £1m a week to charities in Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire faced with a cashflow crisis as a result of Covid-19.

In the first eight weeks the Covid-19 Emergency Fund has made more than 400 awards to frontline charities – including RainbowBiz CIC – helping over one million people in the process.