Worksop cancer patient snubbed by Government business grant faces financial ruin

William Gibbs told how his dad Paul, 57, - who has run his car audio installation business for 18 years - did not qualify for the funding and was offered a grant from the self-employment income support scheme instead.

The fund pays 80 per cent of applicants’ average trading profits over the last three months - which in Paul’s case came to £1,129.

Media student William said Paul - currently undergoing chemotherapy for cancer of the esophagus - had hoped the top up for local business grant for up to £25,000 would save his business Sounds Secure from collapse.

The father-of-one - whose rent payments on his business premises are already in arrears - was hoping to go back to work during a break in his chemotherapy treatment.

However the Covid-19 pandemic made this impossible as high-risk cancer patient Paul was forced to self-isolate and shield himself.

William, 22, said: “All he’s been offered to cover three months is just over £1,000 - if he can’t get this grant his business will go under.

“I’m really worried because he’s had this business for 18 years - he’s built it up from nothing.

“He’s so well known people just ring him up and send work his way.

“My dad is going to have to have his esophagus removed and the hope that he might get this grant was the only thing keeping him positive - it was his hope.”

Under the Government scheme Bassetlaw District Council has responsibility for distributing the top up fund to local businesses.

However William added: “I just don’t understand how they’ve come up with this rule.

“The only reason they’ve turned him down is because he was offered the self-employment income support.

“He had his hopes up about the additional grant and it has really knocked him over.”

Bassetlaw district councillor Jo White, member for regeneration, said the council was ‘extremely sympathetic’ to Paul’s situation.

She told how - unfortunately for Paul - Government guidance for the top up grant made it clear applicants must have exhausted all other grant schemes before submitting an application.

Because Paul was eligible for the Government’s self-employment income support scheme he was not eligible for the top-up grant.

Coun White added: “Having looked closely at Mr Gibbs’ situation we appreciate the self-employment grant is not as much as he was expecting and we wish we could do more.

“But we have to work within the Government guidance that is stipulated for each grant - we will continue to provide Mr Gibbs with any further business support where we can.

“We are trying to help as many businesses as possible and are currently working with all Nottinghamshire councils to create a county-wide scheme for the discretionary business grants and expect this to be ready in early June.”

Bassetlaw businesses can apply for government financial support by phoning the council’s economic development team on 01909 533533.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor