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<p>Following on from the success of the first round of the Green Recovery Challenge
Fund, the Government has now confirmed that it will be doubling the size of the fund
by making an additional £40 million available. This will bring the total to £80 million.
This extra money will be used in a second round, to be launched in early 2021. The
Green Recovery Challenge Fund will kick-start a pipeline of nature-based projects
to restore nature, tackle climate change and connect people with the natural environment.
In round 1 a number of eligible bids were received from zoos and aquaria for conservation
projects outside their core business.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also provided
a package to support businesses, including zoos, through this period of disruption
caused by COVID-19. Zoos are eligible to apply for a range of support schemes including
the Furlough Scheme, VAT deferral, Business Rates Relief, the Business Interruption
Loan and the option to reclaim the costs of Statutory Sick Pay.</p><p> </p><p>In addition
to the full range of financial support available to all businesses and employers,
we have established an extra £100 million support fund for zoos facing severe financial
difficulty, and the deadline for applications from this fund has now been extended
to 29 January. The fund provides support up until March 2021.</p>
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