St Barnabas has recruited the fitness expert to host workouts on Facebook to help improve people’s health during social isolation at home and to raise money for patient support. Learn more
How charities can support beneficiaries with digital during Coronavirus
Charities are embracing technological solutions during this period of social distancing, letting people know they have their backs in a crisis. Learn more
How digital can help you manage the impact of Coronavirus
Join us for a webinar on 9th April hosted by members of the Charity Digital team as we chat through the digital tools, resources and strategies charities can put place to help manage the impact of COVID-19. Join for free
Coronavirus: Best practice for communication and outreach
We examine best practice for clear and calm communication in the midst of a pandemic. Learn more
Coronavirus: Charity guide to virtual onboarding
Over the coming weeks and months, some charities may need to hire new staff. How do you do this when your staff is working remotely? We examine successful onboarding practices from organisations with a history of remote working. Learn more
If you are an individual enquiring about our COVID19 Relief – Free Meal Delivery Service then you can refer yourself or a friend via the following: click here
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please click here
If you work for a service and would like to refer a client who is vulnerable and in need; then please email with the following: Your clients name, age, address and contact number. Along with any allergies and dietary requirements they may have (Vegetarian, Halal, Soft Foods Only). Email: thesmilebrigade.org Tel: 07714621220
Please note that our COVID19 Relief – Free Meal Delivery Service is only available to residents and organisations based within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
H&F CAN is the volunteer community aid network launched by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to support vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
Working with the voluntary and charity sector, and alongside the ward and street-level mutual aid groups, H&F CAN offers support to residents who don’t have friends or family close by to help them. Our taskforce of volunteers will help those most in need at the time of their greatest need.
Do you need urgent support with food, medicines, loneliness and isolation?
Or are you worried about a friend, neighbour or relative?
Freephone: 0800 1456095 (9am to 7pm)
Email: can@lbhf.gov.uk
Volunteering will be crucial in the response to coronavirus and people have not been stopped from doing this. However, volunteering that requires going out of the house is now only permitted in certain circumstances.
Please check this latest government guidance on what you can and cannot do at the moment (section 7 in particular) – Guidance on volunteering
Funders have been quick to issue statements on how they will support their grant holders in the coming months. Here’s our list of new, amended and soon-to-be-open funds.
Despite a raft of new measures announced by the government to support businesses through the Coronavirus outbreak, the national business helpline is stretched to its limit in responding to queries around the range of available options.
West London Business are gearing up to launch a dedicated business support helpline to field queries from local businesses that are struggling to navigate support from government and banks, as well as siginificant business change. This will also offer more bespoke insight on support from our local authorities. To deliver the project we are bringing together a team of skilled and experienced home-based volunteers.
This is a chance for you – or perhaps a friend or colleague – to make a real difference in supporting your local business community and provide business leaders with the information they need to make informed decisions at this testing time. If you have experience suitable for either of the two roles below and have time to help from home, please contact us today. The first volunteer training session will be a webinar this Sunday evening.
WEST LONDON NEEDS YOU!
Business Support Volunteer (Front-Line)
Are you an experienced business professional who can help answer business owners/ managers queries over the phone? Read more
Volunteer Information & Research Officers / Knowledge Manager
Are you able to help us identify and interpret the details of the latest government support in this fast-moving crisis? Read more
E-mail jacquie.wright@westlondon.com if you, a friend or colleague are interested in the Business Support Volunteer role and for Information & Research/ Knowledge Management e-mail andrew.dakers@westlondon.com
The King’s Fund in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund has launched a new £3 million Healthy Communities Together programme to empower voluntary and community sector organisations and the local health and care sector to work together to boost the health and wellbeing of their communities. The programme consists of two phases. In phase 1, a maximum of six areas will receive up to £50,000 funding and a package of learning and development support for up to nine months to develop their partnership and project plans. The closing date for application for phase 1 is the 27th May 2020 with projects for phase 1 projected to start in September 2020. At the end of this phase, each location will be invited to apply for phase 2 of the programme for further funding and support. Click here
Grants of between £20,000 and £60,000 per year for up to three years are available to charitable organisations that help people at times of crisis in their lives. In particular, funding is available when other sources of support have failed, are inappropriate, or are simply not available. The funding is provided through the Henry Smith Charity Improving Lives Programme. Eligible organisations include charities and not-for-profit organisations (including social enterprises) in the UK with a turnover of £50,000 – £2 million (in exceptional circumstances up to £5 million). Applications can be submitted at any time and decisions are usually made within 6 months. Click here
In response to COVID19 and the restrictions on social activity, government has issued a procurement notice to clarify how contracting bodies should support contractors. For example, by putting in place ‘the most appropriate payment measures to support supplier cash flow’ and ensuring ‘invoices submitted by suppliers are paid immediately on receipt’.
sobus
20 Dawes Road, London, SW6 7EN
Telephone 020 7952 1230
Email info@sobus.org.uk
Registered Charity No.1071089
and Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England No.03471416
Sobus is a new Community Development Agency for Hammersmith & Fulham. It has been created through the merger of the Community and Voluntary Sector Association Hammersmith & Fulham (CaVSA) and the Fulham Community Partnership Trust (FCPT). Building on the strengths of both organisations, sobus aims to provide a wider range of support services for local charities, community groups, social enterprises and start up businesses.