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COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant (England)

The UK Government in collaboration with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) have launched a £3.25 million fund to support the operations of not-for-profit food redistributors to ensure that any surplus food can reach people in need or those considered most vulnerable. The COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant will be delivered in three phases. During phase 1 WRAP will be approaching a target list of small redistribution organisations who have applied previously to the fund to ascertain their immediate need for potential funding support. Phase 2 (which will be launched on the 9th April) will provide funding opportunities for small surplus food redistributors, and Wrap are also launching funding support aimed at medium to larger operators (phase 3). The grants can be used to fund both capital and revenue costs associated with redistribution activities such as access to surplus food through logistical collections; sorting, storing, freezing, labelling / repackaging food, and; onward distribution of food to charities or end beneficiaries. Click here

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£750 Million Coronavirus Funding for Frontline Charities (UK)

The Government has announced a £750 million emergency support package for charities across the UK to ensure they can continue their work during the coronavirus outbreak. The funding package consists of £360 million direct from government departments to charities such as hospices and victim support charities that are providing vital services and helping vulnerable people through the current crisis; and £370 million for smaller charities, including through a grant to the National Lottery Community Fund. The National Lottery Community Fund is currently discussing with Government on how best to distribute the funding. The Government also announced the Government will match fund whatever the public decides to donate to the BBC’s Big Night In charity appeal on 23 April, starting with a contribution of at least £20 million to the National Emergencies Trust appeal. Click here

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Young Women’s Trust

The Young Women’s Trust has set up an Emergency Fund in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. Young women can’t apply for funding themselves, but can be referred to the fund by Women’s Aid, Women’s Resource Centre, or Women for Refugee Women. Find out more.

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Barclays Foundation

Barclays Bank has announced the establishment of the Barclays Foundation, which will provide a #COVID19 Community Aid Package of £100 million to charities working to support vulnerable people impacted by the pandemic. Find out more.

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Fundraising Regulator Updates & Advice

We are regularly updating our advice on fundraising to ensure it accounts for the latest public health advice. Please share this advice with your teams and contact our enquiries team if you have any further questions.

You should keep up-to-date with official information provided by the government that may affect your fundraising and prepare to review or stop your activity at short notice. Further advice for charities is also available from:

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Key Considerations for Charities in the Current Crisis

Russell-Cooke offer some further guidance on key considerations for charities and links to additional sources of useful information. Read more

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.

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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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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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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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