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Department for Health & Social Care Calls for Evidence Relating to Volunteering – Deadline Today!

The DHSC has issued a call for evidence relating to volunteering. Any insight you can offer from the frontline would be really helpful in informing their policy decisions. They’ve asked for any data/evidence to be submitted to Matthew.Siddons@dhsc.gov.uk, ideally by the end of the day on Wednesday 15 April. Click here.

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BAME Covid-19 Emergency Planning Group

The Ubele Initiative highlights to government urgent concern that BAME communities who are both on the frontline dealing with outbreak and are set to face disproportionate impacts, are not being adequately included and considered in decisions being made by government and civil society leadership. Find out more.

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Campaign to Support Seniors Who are Socially Isolated Throughout Covid-19

The Bring Joy Foundation has launched a campaign to support seniors who are socially isolated throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Donations can be made via justgiving.com/campaign/HomeIsolation. Funds will be distributed to local community groups and Home Instead Senior Care offices to supply craft materials, activities, communication tools and assistive technology to seniors to support them in their isolation. Grants are also available for seniors facing extra challenges during this time due to illness or disability. Local community groups, either registered or unregistered, that have had to suspend meetings can apply for this funding by clicking on the ‘Apply’ button on the homepage of the charity’s website.

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DSC Relaunch #EverybodyBenefits Campaign

DSC say they are dissapointed with the government’s support package for charities, but still pushing desperately for the help we all need. They’re wrestling with the implications of what’s been announced and looking at the gaps that leaves, and will be back arguing the case for more help after the Easter weekend.

In the meantime, they’re relaunching our #EverybodyBenefits campaign. There’s no better time to show government, journalists, and everybody else that the work charities do is critical to society. It’s not an add-on or something we can do without, everything we do is connected to making the world a better place – and #EverybodyBenefits from that!

Read more and get involved here.

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Covid-19 Legal Advice & Insights from Russell-Cooke Solicitors

Check out the links below:

Coronavirus: tax and payment reliefs and deferrals

How will coronavirus affect commercial leases

Support for charities in the current crisis

Coronavirus: a guide for developers and land owners on planning issues

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Funding for Schools Incurring Additional Costs Due to the Coronavirus (England)

The Government has announced extra funding and support to cover the exceptional costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) for the period March to July 2020. Funding will be available for all state-funded mainstream and special schools, and alternative provision. This can relate to additional costs associated with keeping schools open during the Easter and/or summer half term holidays, for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers; support; the provision of free school meals (FSM) for eligible children who are not attending school; and additional cleaning – required due to confirmed or suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) cases; etc. Funding will be available to schools that are unable to meet such additional costs from their existing resources, or which they could only meet by drawing down on reserves and undermining their long-term financial sustainability. Click here

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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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