Please find below a variety of different support support and resources for your organisation, specifically designed to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both Scottish and UK Governments have advised working from home were possible; if this is something that can be done within your group or organisation, we have provided a template assessment form to help you ensure your staff are as safe and comfortable as possible. This form can also be used outwith the COVID-19 situation.
Completed forms should be returned to the member of staff who handles your Health and Safety.
Download the Home Working Assessment Template from our website.
The Ready Scotland website has also launched a new page with advice for community groups.
This checklist has been written with established Community Resilience Groups in mind, but can be used by any group of people who want to consider how they can help people in their community through the COVID-19 pandemic in a way which is safe, sustainable and protects the vulnerable.
The list includes advice on communication, the importance of an integrated response, and other sources of advice.
To view the full list, or for further information, please visit the Advice for Community Groups page.
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has published guidance for charities based on some of the frequent queries they have received around COVID-19.
This guidance brings together information charities need to know during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights other organisations who may be able to offer support. It is aimed at:
- charity trustees
- people working in or with charities
- professionals who advise charities
OSCR is working closely with key partners and stakeholders across the sector to make sure they can get clear information out to support charities at this time, and will be updating the guidance regularly – one of the areas they are currently looking into is decision making and quorums.
For further information, or to read (or download) the full guidance, please visit the OSCR website.
Scottish Government has launched a helpline providing businesses (including 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.
On Monday 16th March, Scottish Government also announced a £320 million support package to limit the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in Scotland (which includes small, local business and social enterprises) during the 2020-21 financial year, including:
- a 75% rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a rateable value of less than £69,000 from Wednesday 1st April
- an £80 million fund to provide grants of at least £3,000 to small businesses in sectors facing the worst economic impact of COVID-19
- 1.6% rates relief for all properties across Scotland, aiming to reverse the planned below inflation uplift in the poundage, from Wednesday 1st April
- a fixed rates relief of up to £5,000 for all pubs with a rateable value of less than £100,000, again from Wednesday 1st April
The Finance Secretary, Kate Forbes, will also write to all local authorities, urging them to respond positively to requests from rate payers for payment deferrals for a fixed period.
For further information, please visit the Scottish Government website.
To ensure that private and third sector childcare providers are clear on what is available to support their business and staff as a result of the impact of COVID-19, Scottish Government has produced a short guide detailing the different forms of financial support announced by the UK and Scottish Governments. The guide details where and how to access support (where this information is available).
To view or download the guide, please visit the CVS Falkirk website.
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is managing the Coronavirus Third Sector Information Hub, which will be constantly updated with information and resources relevant to the third and voluntary sectors during this time.
Currently, SCVO’s focus is on encouraging organisations to stay up to date with official guidance whilst also reviewing the specific risks that COVID-19 poses to their organisation and service, so they can plan to mitigate the impact wherever possible.
They will also be establishing two communication lists for regular updates: the COVID-19 Stakeholder Network and the COVID-19 Voluntary Sector Bulletin.
For further information, please read the full web article.
Volunteer Scotland has compiled a series of general 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.”
- PVG and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
For further information, please view the full web article.
Alternatively, for specific and local support around managing your volunteers, recruiting volunteers, or PVG applications and membership during this time, please contact CVS Falkirk by email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk
On Wednesday 18th March, the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Aileen Campbell MSP, 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, including anyone struggling to access food.
The emergency funding package will include:
- a £70 million Food Fund
- a £50 million Wellbeing Fund
- a £40 million Supporting Communities Fund
- £50 million towards meeting an anticipated increase in applications for the existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Scottish social security benefits
- a £20 million Third Sector Resilience Fund
For further information, please read the full web article.
Skills for Health has developed a free online resource for key workers (including volunteers, who are classed as category 2 or 3) to learn about COVID-19 symptoms, infection prevention, investigation and guidance to support them in their role.
Skills for Health is one of the leading online learning providers for Statutory/Mandatory training for healthcare. The awareness course and its guidance is updated regularly and aims to ensure organisations’ employees and volunteers are prepared to recognise and prevent the spread of COVID-19, allowing for continuity of the best possible service delivery during these unprecedented times.
The course includes Statutory/Mandatory e-learning training, aligned to the UK’s Core Skills Training Framework, including Infection Prevention and Control.
For further information, please visit the Skills for Health website.
Acas has released advice for both employers and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is hosted on their website and is updated regularly.
The guidance includes new details on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), use of holiday leave, increased advice around hygiene in the workplace, and guidance for when employees need to self-isolate.
Acas also runs free regular advisory webinars for employers, providing practical advice for employers to help manage the impact of CVOID-19 in the workplace, with additional dates due to be released in the coming weeks.
To view or download the updated Acas advice, or for further information, please visit the Acas website.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) has released guidance for HR professionals, in respect of dealing with employee issues during the current COVID-19 situation.
CIPD is the professional body for HR in the UK; with this guidance, they aim to provide pragmatic answers to questions from employers, businesses, organisations and networks.
View or download the CIPD guidance on the CVS Falkirk website.
