HarperCollins owner News Corp donates £100k to charities for coronavirus effort

As part of its annual Giving scheme, HarperCollins parent firm News Corp has donated £100,000 to four UK and Irish charities focused on supporting communities struggling during the coronavirus crisis.

Employees from News UK, Dow Jones and HarperCollins UK voted for Age UK, Alone, Mind and NHS Charities Together to receive £25,000 each from this year’s News Corp Giving programme.

HarperCollins UK c.e.o. Charlie Redmayne said: “News Corp Giving is an important part of our calendar when staff come together to vote for the recipients of the annual £100,000 fund. This year’s focus is on charities supporting those affected by coronavirus: between them, these charities support key workers and volunteers in the NHS, the elderly and isolated, and those struggling with their mental health. Always vital, their work now is perhaps more important, and the need more urgent, than ever before."

Mind is providing support to people experiencing mental health problems during the crisis, while Alone is an Irish organisation that works with older people and has expanded its work during the pandemic.

NHS Charities Together has been working on the coronavirus response and raising money for NHS staff, while Age UK has been working to provide essential food and medicine to older people during the lockdown.

Age UK fundraising director Laurie Boult said: “Age UK is delighted to have been voted one of News Corp Giving’s charities for this year, which means so much during this period of great anxiety for everyone, but especially for older people and their loved ones. Age UK is determined to be there for older people who need our help and especially for those who have no one else to turn to in this time of crisis.”