Telecommunications company Sure helped charities during lockdown.

Among the causes supported by the Sure Community Foundation was the Isle of Man Foodbank, to which it gave £500.

The Foodbank gives food supplies to people who have been most affected by the coronavirus due to vulnerability and inability to leave home.

The foundation also gave the charities Live at Home and Southern Befrienders with access to Sure’s on-demand voice conference service.

Both charities help older residents and the donation of a conference call facility helped to combat the feeling of isolation for members who were unable to have visitors.

Further support from the foundation allowed its members to continue social events through their landlines.

The foundation provided the hospice with SIM cards and credit for their tablet devices to help volunteers and nurses while they are out helping patients who were unable to see family or friends.

Local charity Singing Jo & Co was given with a phone to enable the charity to continue its singing, dancing, rhyme and drama sessions that promote linguistic, cognitive, emotional, creative and physical skills and fitness for babies and toddlers.

Crossroads, the charity that supports carers, was given six mobile phones.

The chief executive of Crossroads, Jackie Betteridge, said: ’The mobile phones they have provided will help us to ensure the safety of our care support workers who are delivering home care services in the community and allow them to provide essential support. The past few months have been difficult for local charities, including ourselves, so we are extremely grateful to the Foundation for their support and generosity at this time.’

Mike Phillips, chief executive of Sure in the Isle of Man, said: ’Everyone involved with the Foundation has been working incredibly hard and this can be seen by the number of charities we have been able to help in this short amount of time.

’Although our support is often small, we hope our help has contributed to our island and reminds people that they are not alone. We continue to seek for charities to help so get in touch with us if you would like support.’