Some 170,000 people have registered to be volunteers with the NHS after a recruitment drive to help the vulnerable amid the coronavirus crisis.
The helpers are needed for delivering food and medicines, driving patients to appointments and phoning the isolated.
The scheme is one of a number aimed at relieving pressure on the NHS.
Wellbeing is probably even more important whilst we’re all working from home. You need to create space for exercise, take breaks and communicate with others still. Read on.
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
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.
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…
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.
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.
We think funders should take a supportive and pragmatic approach to helping the organisations they fund throughout this period.
Sourced from NCVO by Nigel Jacques, Sobus Organisational Development Officer
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.
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.
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.
