We continue our programme of virtual events, courses, book clubs, workshops and more throughout March – we hope you can join us.
Civil Society have reported that NCVO and Volunteering Matters are developing practical recommendations for the government about how a national volunteering passporting scheme would work. Such a scheme was one of the recommendations in a report about levelling up communities, which was compiled by Conservative MP Danny Kruger last September. To find out more about the proposals, click here.
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) are campaigning to help charity supporters give more, and to better support the fantastic charities in the UK to meet the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis.
The sector is currently facing one of the biggest financial crises yet. This has resulted in huge falls in income, increased levels of demand for services. Therefore, needing to do more to respond to Covid-19 and care for the most at-risk and marginalised individuals and communities has created a perfect storm.
CAF are part of a coalition of charities, campaigning for a two year Gift Aid Emergency Relief package. The campaign proposes a 5% increase of Gift Aid from 20% to 25% and that the Small Donation scheme, which makes claiming gift aid easier for small charities, be extended to many more. This change could result in an additional £450m to help the sector survive the crisis and recover.
To read more about the campaign and join, click here.
Paul Ticher, author of Key Guides: Data Protection – for voluntary organisations gives us an update on how the charity sector will be affected by Data Protection changes due to Brexit. To read Paul’s article, click here.
Civil Society have reported that The Value of Small in a Big Crisis report finds that small charities responded effectively because they are distinctive in who they serve, how they carry out their work, and the role they play in their communities. Click here to read more information on the report.
New support and advice to help small businesses trading with the EU
We have been busy bolstering the support available to small and medium-sized businesses to help you navigate the new ways of doing business with the EU and to ensure you’re able to trade smoothly.
Last week the Government announced a £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund to help small and medium-sized businesses adjust to new customs, rules of origin and VAT rules when trading with the EU. This will open for applications next month. We are continually rolling out more tools to support businesses as they operate under the new rules, I urge you to take a look at the range of guidance and support already available on gov.uk/transition.
For any further queries or general business advice please contact our dedicated business support helplines. There is specific guidance and assistance on moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland on GOV.UK.
Thank you for your continued efforts to adapt your business to the new changes. Together we will take advantage of the opportunities that being an independent trading nation brings.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP
Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Helpline numbers
You can contact the government’s Business Support Helpline for free business advice.
England: 0800 998 1098
Scotland: 0300 303 0660
Wales: 0300 060 3000
Northern Ireland: 0800 181 4422
Living Medicine shows how we can feel better, manage long-term conditions and treat minor ailments with foods, herbs and simple lifestyle changes. Discovering the wonderful ways plants support our bodies reveals a new world in which we are part of, and can work with, nature. Understanding how to use food remedies gives us control and helps us feel good. We update this global cultural knowledge for today’s safe use and to pass on to family and friends. Click on the links below to find out more:
Welcome to this week’s Creative Lowdown, and wow do we have a cracking line-up of creative events for you. From a virtual exhibition showcasing mesmerising work from British Chinese artists, to exclusive live interviews with some of our best-loved performers, and a powerful short film celebrating girl power, there are loads of fantastic creative opportunities at your fingertips. So – unearth your diary, dust off the cobwebs and start making plans!
Are you organising a creative event or activity? We want to hear about it! Just enter the details in this easy form for your chance to be featured in a future Creative Lowdown.
A new foundation led by and supporting Black and Ethnic Minority communities is being created and will start its development phase at the beginning of next year.
Baobab Foundation will be “a new type of foundation, led by the communities it serves”, and aim to address the chronic underfunding of community organisations led by people of colour. Read on
H&F Council has been supporting residents throughout the Covid-19 pandemic including working with community partners and voluntary organisations across the borough.
The vaccine rollout now offers welcome relief during a period which, for many of us, has been challenging and distressing. In H&F over 18,000 people have already had the vaccine without incident.
But the introduction of the vaccine has also highlighted some concerns. There are lots of questions that people are asking, including how effective and safe it is, who should have it first and what the side effects might be.
These are all reasonable questions. So, having a discussion about why all residents should look to having the vaccination when the opportunity arises over the coming weeks and months, is really important.
H&F would like to help by providing reliable sources of information about the vaccine from people who work as doctors, nurses and vaccine researchers. Read more
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.