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.

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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 heredates 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.

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.

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

Open Age have been continuing apace with our development of a remote offering that our members can access from the safety of their own homes. After testing for a two week period we launched a very basic programme of remote activities on Monday the 4th May and have been steadily building on this ever since.

Our “How to use Zoom” classes have proved to be a popular and effective way of ensuring our members are able to access this new tool. In these sessions we invite small groups to join a teleconference where they are talked though how to download Zoom to their device and how to set up an account. They are then sent a meeting invite and talked though how to join a meeting before the session moves to using Zoom itself, and members are given a short introduction to its various features.

Between 4th and 15th May we ran 33 of these session for 93 members. All those that took part are now able to access our remote activity offered via Zoom.

For the Open Age Virtual activity programme for next week please click here.

Natwest want to help community organisations access the support, funding and digital services that are available. Find out more.

In smaller charities, Chairs often take on multiple roles and have to balance competing priorities. The Association of Chairs has put together a handy list of hints and tips. Find out more.

The Alcohol Service is a free service to the residents of, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. We are a welcoming service for people having trouble with alcohol use or who are affected by alcohol use issues. We offer a range of services including Family and Carers, Older peoples, and Counselling.

At these troubling times we are still here to help but working in different ways. Our staff are ready to support and help you stay safe. Why not join our open Zoom Coffee Mornings to find out more?

Please contact us: Tel: 0800 0147440 or email thealcoholservice.info@cgl.org.uk

Click here for our Service Users’ Guide.

The Coronavirus pandemic can impact anybody’s mental health, which is why the mental health charity Mind have launched a new campaign called #SpeakYourMind. Reach out to someone who needs a friend with a positive message, or share your top tips for coping to help someone feel they don’t have to face things alone. Find out more.

Explore the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on wellbeing and mental health at an individual, group and societal level.

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