COVID-19 Emergency Fund for the Sight Loss Sector (UK)

To support the essential role sight loss organisations play in providing vital services to blind and partially sighted people, Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) has suspended its normal grant funding activities and set up an emergency fund for sight loss organisations. £500,000 of essential support will be available to sight loss sector organisations which are providing critical services for the physical and emotional well-being of blind and partially sighted people in these uncertain times. Grants will be available of up to £10,000 pounds or the equivalent of two months’ running costs (whichever is less) for use over the next six months. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Click here

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Housing Charity Crisis Launches Emergency Grant (UK)

Crisis has established an emergency grants fund to support local groups who are financially affected by additional demands on their resources and who have expanded their provision to meet the current needs of those experiencing homelessness across the UK. Local organisations and charities providing services to those experiencing homelessness can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for short-term responses to the coronavirus emergency; and grants of up to £50,000 to fund long-term needs and potential expansion or change in service delivery. Click here

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Bid Writing: Distance Learning Package

Learn at your home or office. No need to travel anywhere. The package includes all the topics from our popular Bid Writing: The Basics and Bid Writing: Advanced live workshops plus sample funding bids. Once you have covered all the materials you can submit up to five questions by email. Find out more

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Why Do People Give?

If you’re interested in donor attitudes and why people give, check out this fascinating research from Mark Phillips and Amber Nathan at Bluefrog Consulting. Find out more.

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In Kind Direct: New, Donated, Consumer Goods to Charities, Not-for-Profit’s & Social Enterprises

Is the UK charity connecting manufacturers and retailers of goods like household essentials to charitable organisations (not just registered charities). Organisations can register for free, and access huge savings on the In Kind Direct online catalogue. This includes toilet roll, hand wash, cleaning and laundry supplies, period products, mother & baby supplies, indoor activities and toiletries. You can give products to the people you support or use them to keep running your services. Find out more here, or email Charlotte, Head of Charity Partnerships

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DSC: We’re Still Fighting for Sector Support

This could be a pivotal week in the #EveryDayCounts campaign efforts to get a swift, substantial and simple emergency government funding package for charities and voluntary organisations.

We’re still pushing government for a Resilience Fund to get charities through the next few months.

There was some excellent media coverage over the weekend, with the Telegraph and the Independent newspapers talking about the importance of charitable services in these difficult times and the need for Treasury support.

We may be getting closer to a deal but it’s a difficult process and there’s nothing concrete on the table yet – so please keep writing to your MPs and publicising your story!  

You can also tell Parliament’s DCMS Select Committee what’s happening to you and the people you serve – they’re asking for evidence about the impact of COVID19 on charities until 16 April.

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West London Business ‘Talk at Ten’ Webcasts – FREE Recap of The First Five!

Since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, WLB has been regularly convening a range of experts to address the various issues confronting business in West London. ‘Talk at Ten’ webcasts bring WLB CEO Andrew Dakers and guests together in our virtual studio to tackle the toughest topics of our time.

By popular demand, we’re now opening up our archive of the first five episodes ‘Talk at Ten’ for FREE viewing.

EPISODE 1: HR & People
Hear from HR professionals, as well as businesses in the manufacturing and events sectors, on the challenges of managing significant business change. Play >>

EPISODE 2: Public Sector Emergency Response
We discuss the Local authority, parliamentary, NHS and Police response to coronavirus in West London. Play >>

EPISODE 3: Finance
The third West London Business ‘Talk at Ten’ looks at financing your business through Coronavirus. Play >>

EPISODE 4: Leading & Coaching Virtual Teams
We look at the challenges and opportunities of home-working through the Coronvirus pandemic. Play >>

EPISODE 5: The Food Industry Response
We explore how food businesses – including those based in and around Park Royal – are adapting to the latest challenges. Play >>

Tuesday 7 April, 10am: West London Webcast ‘Talk at Ten’: Coronavirus – How your business can support the West London community
In this programme we will be looking at the various actions taken by businesses in West London and beyond – and how you can get involved. Register for the webcast: just £9 for WLB members* and £14 for non-members. BOOK NOW

 

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BWB Webinar: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

As the coronavirus situation is escalating, there have been a range of legal questions about furloughing emerging from charities across the sector. This free webinar on 7th April will explore the latest updates to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and will be followed by a Q&A. Register here.

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DSC: Charity Survey Results Support #EveryDayCounts Campaign

Earlier this week Directory of Social Change surveyed the thousands of charities it supports to try and understand the real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on charities across the UK. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond – the shocking results are below. This is such important information to support the #EveryDayCounts campaign, and we’re now sharing it with journalists and politicians.

The findings sadly confirm much of what we’ve been saying to government for weeks:

  • Half of charities surveyed said they were already in financial difficulties due to the pandemic, with another 42% expecting to be soon;
  • Over 60% of charities who responded are furloughing staff under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme;
  • Just 7% of charities surveyed said they qualified for CBILS – the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, with just under half saying they did not qualify and over 40% saying they didn’t know;
  • Over half of charity respondents say they will go bust within six months without additional financial help;
  • Over 70% of charities surveyed report that they will go bust before the end of 2020 without additional financial help.

Commenting on the findings, DSC’s CEO Debra Allcock Tyler said ‘The Prime Minister, the Chancellor, the Treasury and other decision-makers in government must understand the gravity of these results quickly and take action now to provide swift, substantial and simple emergency financial support for the charity sector – #EveryDayCounts’.

Respondents also provided over 200 heart-breaking stories of the immediate and long term impacts on their beneficiaries. Read more here.

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