Sunderland taxi drivers offered support grants to help them through lockdown - here's how to apply

With hospitality businesses and non-essential shops shut, people told to stay at home unless strictly necessary, and travel outside local areas discouraged, taxi drivers are among those left little trade during the covid restrictions.

But city leaders are using a pot of cash set up to help Wearsiders through the pandemic to offer some support.

Drivers who hold either a Private Hire or Hackney licence can apply to receive the one-off payment of £500 which it is hoped will support them through the latest national lockdown.

Sunderland City Council is making the offer using funding received through the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) from the Government.

Councils have the freedom to choose who is eligible for the grants, but Ministers said the funding was expected to help those businesses which, while not legally forced to close, are still severely impacted by the restrictions.

Executive director of City Development, Peter McIntyre, said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that support is channelled to businesses that need it most.

"And we know that a great many taxi drivers – continuing to support residents as needed with key journeys during the pandemic, but to a large extent reliant on a buoyant economy with a strong retail, hospitality and leisure offer – who have faced a drastic reduction in trade as people’s movement is significantly restricted.

“We hope these payments – which we will make as quickly as we possibly can – will give a helping hand to cab drivers struggling as a result of this crisis.”

Drivers are not required to hold a vehicle licence to be eligible, and payments will be limited to one per taxi driver, even if they hold both a Hackney and Private Hire licence.

The council said individuals or businesses which hold vehicle licences but do not hold a private hire or hackney licence as a driver will unfortunately not be eligible under this scheme.

Drivers who wish to apply for the grant should visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/covid-19business and fill in an online form.

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