Covid-19 Bulletin 23.03.20

Please click here for this week’s Covid-19 bulletin compiled by Sobus, which includes:

Local information

National guidance and information

Financial support and funding

Grants and funding

Other useful information

 

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The Russell-Cooke Charity Team: Support for Charities in The Current Crisis

To help charities at this difficult time, we’re offering additional support by telephone. If you need guidance on any legal issue arising from the crisis, you can call any member of our team for a short conversation, without charge or obligation.

You can find contact details for our team here, or call us on +44 (0)20 3826 7510

We’ve also put together a brief note on some of the many issues charities are facing, with links to additional sources of useful information. Click here.

Do call us if you think we can help.

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The Volunteer Army Helping Self-Isolating Neighbours

The coronavirus outbreak has left many people feeling trapped indoors – but tens of thousands of volunteers have offered to help them out.

It was late at night on Thursday 12 March when Aviah Sarah Day realised things were serious. Five days earlier she’d thought nothing of going to a nightclub packed with sweaty revellers.

Now, as the latest news about the coronavirus outbreak came in, it began to dawn on her just how difficult life was about to become for the millions of British people who would end up stuck inside their homes. Read on…

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Government Introducing Temporary New Right to Statutory Unpaid Emergency Volunteering Leave

The Government is introducing a temporary new right to statutory unpaid Emergency Volunteering Leave via legislation currently going through Parliament.  This does not apply to workers in firms with less than 10 staff. 

The Coronavirus Bill, which will be presented for its second reading on Monday, makes provision for workers to take up to four weeks unpaid leave with expenses covered by government.

Read more

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Business Community Action in W. London & Inspirational Actions During The Coronavirus Outbreak

Many organisations are already asking how they can help during the Coronavirus outbreak. WLB are working with our partners in the public and non-profit sectors to assist with signposting members of the business community to where you can offer support.

Read our briefing note on where you can direct your support in our seven boroughs of: Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hillingdon and Hounslow.

Read our Community Action Briefing Note

From Brompton Bike Hire to Frame, here are a few inspirational actions that the West London Business team has spotted from companies in response to Coronavirus. We hope these provide creative and timely inspiration as you reflect on how your firm can adapt your talents and capabilities to support those in need of support.

Read more

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Funding : What Should I Expect from Funders?

We think funders should take a supportive and pragmatic approach to helping the organisations they fund throughout this period.

  • Speak to your funders about the impact of cancelling or delaying project activities which are part of funding agreements.
  • London Funders has released a joint statement, signed by an alliance of funders from across sectors, pledging to offer support to civil society groups affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
  • The Association of Charitable Funders have encouraged funders to contact their grantees and discuss how they can best support them.
  • Arts Council England will refocus grant programmes to support artists and freelancers who have lost income.
  • The Blagrave Trust has written to grant holders to reassure them of their continued support and flexibility around awarded funding and how it can be used.
  • In addition to signing the London Funders’ joint statement, the City Bridge Trust is promoting a survey from London Plus to assess the impact of covid-19 on London’s civil society.
  • Esmée Fairbairn is offering flexibility with payments and reporting dates and is offering grants plus support.
  • The Garfield Weston Foundation is continuing to support its grantees and will be as flexible as possible regarding projects and timelines.
  • Good Finance has released a joint statement from social funders stating their continued support and flexibility for all the organisations that they invest in.
  • JRF is focusing its efforts to support people on low incomes by working closely with people with direct experience of poverty and listening to their concerns.
  • The National Lottery Community Fund will continue funds to support people, communities and organisations.
  • Nesta will continue to support grantees and will be flexible if grantees need to stop work or change the work they are doing.
  • The Paul Hamlyn Foundation are adjusting reporting requirements and/or suspending them.
  • The UK Community Foundations is looking to coordinate its network of community foundations and partners to respond to the impact covid-19 will have on those they support.
  • The William Grant Foundation has converted all existing revenue grants to unrestricted for the current year.
  • In Scotland the Corra Foundation will continue to support grantees.
  • The Community Foundation will offer emergency funding for community organisations in Northern Ireland to assist older people who have been affected by covid-19.

Sourced from NCVO by Nigel Jacques, Sobus Organisational Development Officer

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#EveryDayCounts

After a week of high-level discussions between charity leaders and national government, it’s sadly all too clear that amidst the COVID19 crisis our political leaders are not taking the threat to the charity sector and its millions of beneficiaries seriously enough.

We must now mobilise every voice so that the message gets through loud and clear to all politicians, the press, and the public. If you’re feeling frustrated, scared, or just wondering what to do, don’t worry, you’re not alone! You can make a difference by putting that energy into action!

Many charity infrastructure bodies have now put out guidance and assistance.

 

 

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Funding & COVID-19

Sobus has received feedback from several organisations on service delivery and their concerns in the present COVID 19 crisis.

Many organisations are having to scale down services for a variety of reasons whilst others are facing increasing demand.

Most organisations will also face financial pressures during this period. Funding is obviously critical and funders are beginning to respond to this situation.

The GLA and City Bridge have created an emergency fund for community and voluntary sector organisations. “The emergency scheme will be coordinated by London Funders and will be available to organisations facing immediate financial pressures and uncertainty because of the coronavirus. These include increasing demands for services, higher staff absences, fewer volunteers and lower donations.” More details will be available next week on the London Funders website: https://londonfunders.org.uk/

Sobus is also in contact with local funders and appraising them of the situation and will keep update local organisations on developments.

There is also guidance for the Charity Sector from the government during the COVID crisis: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector

Sobus would like local organisations where possible to forward any updates on services, or initiatives in addressing needs in the current situation.

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NCVO Information & Guidance About Coronavirus

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has published information and guidance about coronavirus intended to help community and voluntary organisations and volunteers to decide next steps they may need to take in light of the spread of the covid-19 virus. Their page is updated daily with the latest government advice and what this means for voluntary organisations, as well as signposting to useful information from other organisations.

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COVID19: Five Things Government Must Do To Help Charities Maintain Services

DSC and other leading charities have met with the Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Diana Barran, to discuss charities’ role in the COVID19 pandemic and how beneficiaries, volunteers and charities themselves may be affected. Read more

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