A COVID emergency fund is keeping a local, family business stay afloat and connected to its community during lockdown. Elsdon s historic Bird in Bush pub has benefited from Vattenfall UK’s Ray Wind Funds Covid Emergency Fund and now, mine host Stephen Shaw explains the crushing constraints applied across the hospitality industry and their knock-on effect on small businesses and family life. “After the first lockdown,we moved tables from the beer garden onto the village green and people - particularly visitors passing through - began to call in again , he said. Then, when the second lockdown was imposed, we discussed doing take-away meals but there are several outlets in the Rede Valley already doing a good job with a loyal following. With no catering left to do, our chef left us, so we had to dispose of all our perishable goods, beers and foodstuffs.