COVID-19

Social Enterprise Scotland (SES) has compiled a new report, “COVID-19 and the Impact on Social Enterprise in Scotland”, based on findings taken directly from Scottish social enterprises.

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. 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. The deadline for registrations is Friday 31st July.

A message from one of our Development Officers on some of the impact COVID-19 has had on our charities, and support available, including that of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

Waverley Care, one of Scotland’s leading HIV and Hepatitis C charities, has received funding from the Wellbeing Fund to support their most vulnerable service users living with HIV or hepatitis C, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will help Waverely Care support people (including those who are destitute, struggling financially, have poor emotional or mental health, or who are at heightened risk for other reasons) as they socially isolate or shield.

Youth Scotland is keen to find out how COVID-19 and the current lockdown are affecting community-based youth groups, and have set up a short online survey to capture people’s views. The survey asks youth workers and managers about their training needs, challenges and concerns for the future when reopening the groups, but Youth Scotland also wants to know about the success stories from the sector.

Scottish Government has recently published the COVID-19 Framework for Decision-Making, outlining the approach and principles for the country to move out of the current lockdown. This is a 4 phase approach to carefully and gradually move to a new normal.

Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee have launched an Inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on equalities and human rights. This inquiry seeks to identify the evidence that some groups of people are experiencing disproportionately negative impacts of COVID-19, and some of the measures taken to deal with it. The deadline for responses is Friday 1st January 2021.

Scottish Parliament’s COVID-19 Committee wants to hear people’s views on the options for refining or reducing the current lockdown arrangements. The Committee is keen to hear from as many people as possible, as part of Scottish Government’s COVID-19 Framework for Decision-Making and its call for ideas from the public on transitioning out of the current lockdown. Written views in any language (including English, Gaelic, and Scots) are welcomed. The deadline for responses is Friday 29th May.

Scottish Government is researching the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on personal, community and society wellbeing, and have launched an online survey to gather feedback. The survey looks at the concerns, priorities and possible opportunities for different groups and communities, along with their experiences. The deadline for responses is Wednesday 27th May.