Volunteer Scotland has compiled a series of guidance documents for organisation supporting volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including: Practical Guidance for Organisations Managing Volunteers during Covid-19 (“Please note: only services which are essential should be provided in communities. Volunteers should be encouraged to look out for their neighbours.”), Advertising Opportunities During COVID-19, and PVG and Coronavirus (COVID-19).
COVID-19
LAST CHANCE: Money Saving Expert COVID-19 Poverty Relief Grant
With a deadline of 11:59pm THIS WEDNESDAY 25th MARCH, Martin Lewis (of the Money Saving Expert) has launched a £1 million fund to provide grants to small and local charities who are directly helping with the COVID-19 response. Eligible recipients will include, but are not limited to: foodbanks, charities engaged in community aid, and financial advice projects.
Scottish Government Support for Businesses During COVID-19
Scottish Government has launched a helpline providing businesses (which includes small, local business and social enterprises) across Scotland with advice and guidance on COVID-19. The helpline will also help identify the current challenges facing businesses. The helpline is open Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:30pm on: 0300 303 0660. Callers should select option one to speak to the COVID-19 team. Scottish Government also announced a £320 million support package to limit the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in Scotland during the 2020-21 financial year.
Volunteering During COVID-19 in Falkirk
As part of our COVID-19 Community Responses, Resources and Guidance page, we are working to pull together a list of groups and opportunities available for those looking to help out. Once this information is published, anyone will be able to search what’s being done in their local area. Those looking to help out in their local communities during this time, please complete the Community Response Volunteers (COVID-19) online form.
Emergency Funding to Help Communities During COVID-19 Announced
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Aileen Campbell MSP, has announced an additional £350 million of emergency funding for those most affected by the COVID-19 situation. The funding will be made available to councils, third sector groups and charities, businesses and community groups, and is designed to be flexible, enabling them to respond swiftly and according to local need for people impacted economically or through reduced contact with society.
COVID-19 Patient Guidance Translations
Doctors of the World has released translations of COVID-19 guidance for patients in over 20 languages, produced in partnership with the British Red Cross, Migrant Help and Clear Voice. The guidance is based on the NHS and UK Government’s latest advice and health information. Languages currently available include Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese, amongst others.
COVID-19 Community Responses, Resources and Guidance Page
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.
Message from CVS Falkirk CEO Jen Kerr on COVID-19
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.”
COVID-19 Online Resources
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.
Health Protection Scotland COVID-19 Guidance
In response to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases across Scotland, Health Protection Scotland and NHS National Services Scotland have released a series of guidance documents, including for use in non-healthcare settings. The documents will be updated as and when required depending on the situation.
