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Scottish Government’s Wellbeing Fund has reopened for applications, and third sector organisations are strongly encouraged to apply. Activities should be based on working with at risk groups with new needs not currently met by existing services, and be focused on providing vital wellbeing support. Applications from groups working with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities are particularly welcomed. The deadline for applications is Friday 22nd May.

Properties occupied by charities (with a rateable value of £18,000 or less) are now eligible to apply for grants of £10,000 from the Business Support Fund, part of Scottish Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of these grants is to help protect jobs, prevent business closure and promote economic recovery. Falkirk Council has been asked to administer the grants for businesses and charities based in the Falkirk Council area.

The COVID-19 Falkirk Volunteer Expenses Fund has been set up to support community groups and voluntary organisations which operate in Falkirk and District, and whose volunteers provide support through community activities during COVID-19 (from Wednesday 1st April – Saturday 30th May 2020). Expenses will be reimbursed directly to volunteers in order to reduce organisational time and resources required. All COVID-19-related volunteer-involving groups and organisations are eligible to use the fund.

A message on safety from our CEO Jen Kerr: “Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers helping across Falkirk! Keep yourself and the people you are helping safe: Do not enter anyone’s home; leave shopping or messages on the doorstep. Maintain at least 2 meters distance at doorsteps. Wash your hands regularly.”

Our team has been working with our local communities and people to help place those who want to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic where they are needed. We now have a bank of volunteers who are ready and keen to assist local groups and organisations supporting people, and are asking those groups who need volunteers to get in touch with us so we can match them with volunteers.

Unfortunately, during the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are cancelling third sector forums held at our office. At the moment, this will be until the end of June. However, we are running a bi-weekly COVID-19 online forum using Zoom: the COVID-19 Third Sector Response Forum.

CVS Falkirk has launched VOLUNTEER FALKIRK, a new local volunteering phoneline providing you with up to date and relevant information about volunteering locally in the Falkirk and District area during COVID-19. So whether you live in Banknock or Bo’ness, we can put you in touch with local volunteering initiatives.

As a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, CVS Falkirk has pulled together different guidance, resources, and amazing efforts by our local communities to support each other, in order to make them as widely available as possible. The page will be updated regularly with additional resources and guidance as they become available. Our team at CVS Falkirk has set up an online TapaTalk group to discuss third sector responses and offers for help, which anyone can join and feed into.

A message from our CVS Falkirk CEO Jen Kerr on the current COVID-19 pandemic:
“Dear colleagues,
We have had a really busy and inspiring week because of all of the amazing kindness and compassion taking place across Falkirk.  I apologise that we’ve not been in touch properly before now.
Inside is an update on what we are doing to support and enable your efforts.
Please be patient with us while we re-assemble and get organised!  But I want to reassure you that there is an incredible amount of support being mobilised across Falkirk’s communities and that we are working hard (from home mainly) and listening to what you are telling us you need to do that.”

Please find within a series of online resources available during the current COVID-19 situation, including Falkirk community and third sector responses, COVID-19 advice for UK employers from CIPD, and Health Protection Scotland’s COVID-19 Guidance.