Guide to Menstrual Cycles & Mental Health

The link below contains plenty of helpful information such as:

  • The link between menstrual cycles and mental health and how mood, sleep, and energy levels are affected during periods.
  • Understanding premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and its more severe form premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – their physical and emotional effects, what to look out for, and how PMS and PMDD symptoms mimic other mental health conditions.
  • Useful self-care tips and wellbeing advice during your cycle – how the right diet, exercise, emotional and stress management practices help, and other useful advice and resources for women.

Click here

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Job Retention Scheme Will Close to New Entrants Next Week

Last week the Chancellor Rishi Sunak made a statement on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). According to the government, over 1 million employers have used the scheme, making £15bn in claims to date.

Over 50% of respondents to our recent survey said their charity was making use of the scheme, far more than any of the other types of support on offer – so how it is modified and wound down will have big implications for many charities and the services they provide. Further guidance about so-called ‘flexible furloughing’ is expected on 12 June.

The government has published more details in this fact sheet – note that the scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June, which means that ‘the final date by which an employer can furlough an employee for the first time will be the 10 June, in order for the current three-week furlough period to be completed by 30 June’. So, if you’re thinking of taking this option and haven’t yet, time is running out.

Also, see the Charity Tax Group’s short summary of the changes here

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Update from K&C Libraries

Although our libraries are still closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a restricted area has opened in North Kensington Library to provide computer access to residents. Library users are able to use a computer for 45-minutes per day, for essential tasks such as applying for jobs or virtual learning.

Service available: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm

For more information click here.

Along with the new PC provision, we have introduced other initiatives to help people in the borough through the lockdown. Our virtual library offer features more online events, classes and interactive resources and the Home Library Service is working on supporting those unable to leave their homes at all.

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Chancellor extends Self-Employment Support Scheme and confirms furlough next steps

The government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended, giving more security to individuals whose livelihoods are adversely affected by coronavirus in the coming months, the Chancellor announced.

Link 

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H&F Charity CEO Among Charity Leaders Awarded Unique Development Opportunity

Gareth Dixon, CEO of Young H&F Foundation is one of 10 small charity leaders awarded places on a unique initiative designed to both develop their own strategic and leadership capabilities, and transform a further 10 charities.

The successful applicants to Pilotlight’s 2020 Bursary Initiative will each be matched with three other senior leaders from the public and private sectors, forming teams which will support charities who have come to Pilotlight in need of strategic input. The engagement between these teams and their charities will be facilitated and project managed by Pilotlight, requiring just three hours of their time each month.

Recipients of the bursary, now in its third year, come from frontline charities in a broad range of areas:

Bruce McCombie, interim CEO, Pilotlight, said: “The social change we ignite doesn’t just impact charities, it impacts the Pilotlighters who coach and mentor those charities too. That’s one of the many reasons why major businesses including Morgan Stanley, Lendlease and Sodexo sponsor their staff to become Pilotlighters.

“Pilotlight has now supported nearly 1,000 charity leaders and through the Bursary Initiative we’re enabling some of them to continue their leadership development by sharing their experience with another charity.”

Angela Smith-Morgan, CEO of Leukaemia UK and a previous Bursary Pilotlighter, said: “As a charity leader myself it has been so interesting to sit at the other side of the table, get to understand a charity in a different sector, and draw on my own experience to tease out the key issues. This is an invaluable opportunity to see the full dynamic of a charity, its governance as well as its operations – so satisfying to be able to help and support a charity whilst also learning so much myself.”

The charities which will receive the support from the Bursary Pilotlighters’ teams will be matched over the next month, with engagements beginning this summer.

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Online Peer Support Sessions for Voluntary Sector Leaders from IVAR

We would like to offer you the chance to sign up to an online peer support session, offered by our partners at The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR). You can sign up for your first session here – dates are currently available up to the end of June.

These 90 minute sessions, for up to 10 voluntary sector leaders at a time, will give you the opportunity to explore and discuss the challenges you are currently experiencing, precipitated by the COVID-19 outbreak. We understand that you may be facing huge stress and uncertainty, and hope that these sessions will offer a space to share experiences, dilemmas and worries.

One leader who has already taken part commented that: “It was really powerful to be part of one of these sessions … incredible to hear about the wide range of experiences and challenges faced by colleagues and to identify together commonality within that diversity.”

As a by-product of this work, IVAR will also feedback to funders the kinds of challenges that voluntary sector organisations are currently facing. This will help funders to think about what kind of support they need to be offering, and how.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to be kept informed about future dates please email vanessa@ivar.org.uk.

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Product Giving Alliance

In Kind Direct along with FareShare, Charity Digital and International Health Partners, have launched last Friday the Product Giving Alliance. In the last year (April 2019 – 2020), they estimate that together, the value of goods and services they have provided to charities supporting vulnerable people was worth more than £59m. Find out more.

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Coronavirus Community Support Fund

The long-awaited Coronavirus Community Support Fund, made up of £200m of the £750m promised by government 6 weeks ago, has finally launched. You can read DSC’s response to the launch and how to apply here, but get your skates on, applications need to be in as soon as possible! Find out more.

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Corporate Insolvency & Governance Bill

This new bill, passed yesterday, changes the rules around charities trading insolvently as a result of the current pandemic, and allows for online board meetings even if not expressly permitted by your constitution. If you’ve got an AGM or Board meeting coming up or your organisation is struggling financially, this is a really important read. Find out more.

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NHS H&F CCG Daily Bulletin to Increase Mental Health Awareness

Today we are highlighting the online resources that you can use to manage your mental health and wellbeing.

We know that people access information in different ways and want to ensure you have access to support that suits your needs and lifestyle.

Please browse the different online support resources below and try using one or two to improve your mental wellbeing. Please also share the ones you like with other colleagues.

If you haven’t already, please complete our kindness matters survey which ends tomorrow.

To read the bulletin on mental health awareness click here

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