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Volunteer Now partnered with NICVA to deliver this essential learning on how to put best practice in place for involving volunteers safely in such challenging times.

Covid-19 has highlighted across the world how important volunteering is.  Volunteers are brining amazing support to those 'most at risk' in our communities and more and more people are stepping up in terms of getting involved and offering help.  However, we need to ensure safe methods and systems to protect everyone.

This webinar is now available to view here.  (Recorded on 9 April 2020.)

Volunteer Now have also published some Good Practice Guidance information sheets when involving volunteers and volunteering during the Covid-19 crisis. These include Guidance on Volunteering when on Furlough, Informal Volunteering in Response to Covid-19, Keeping Children and Adults Safe Factsheet and more.  To view the information sheets, please click here.
 

NMD District Council have received £98,250 from the Department for Communities for a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to support the community and voluntary sector.
The key focus of the fund is to support projects which help individuals and families experiencing financial stress, or requiring help with food supplies or connectivity needs, because of the current pandemic. As well as support with essential supplies, it is hoped those feeling isolated can benefit from ongoing contact with someone outside of the home.
For details see: https://tinyurl.com/y8fkbcz9
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During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there is consumer advice available if you’re a caravan owner or have a caravan or mobile home in a holiday caravan park. Essential travel doesn’t include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar. You must stay in your main home.

Caravan park pitch fees
Caravan parks are closed due to government restrictions to slow down the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Because of this, you will not be able to fully use the services you are paying for in your contract, and the terms of your written agreement with the park owner cannot be fully fulfilled.
Site owners are unable to fully provide normal services through no fault of their own, so you should try to negotiate with the site owner a reasonable pitch fee payment settlement for the affected period of time.
If you’re experiencing current financial issues you may also ask about the following:

• are there any payment options to help you?
• can you switch to a monthly payment?
• could you pay half now, half later?

 
See link for further details:
www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-consumer-advice-holiday-caravan-owners
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​Good Practice Guidance
It is important to remember that you need to keep yourself, those who you support and the organisations you volunteer with safe.  Volunteer Now have published information sheets for more guidance when involving volunteers and volunteering during the Coronavirus crisis.  They are creating new information sheets and amending and adding to these resources regularly, as information changes. They are listed below:

• Good Practice Considerations for those Groups Involving Volunteers in Response to COVID-19
• Good Practice Guidelines for Volunteers when Volunteering for a COVID-19 Opportunity
• Guidance on Volunteering When on Furlough (COVID-19)
• Guidelines for Providing Volunteers' Out of Pocket Expenses (word download)
• Informal Volunteering in Response to COVID-19 - Keeping Yourself and Others Safe
• Keeping Children and Adults Safe Factsheet (COVID-19)
• Keeping Children and Young People Safe from Online Sexual Abuse (COVID-19)
• Safe Communication Online with Children and Young People Factsheet
• Sample Risk Assessment Template (COVID-19) (word download)
• Sample Volunteer Registration Form (COVID-19) (word download)
• Volunteer Role Description (COVID-19) (word download)

To view all their Good Practice Guidance (COVID-19), click here.

Name of Fund: Emergency support package for charities
The Government has announced a £750 million emergency support package for charities across the UK to ensure they can continue their work during the coronavirus outbreak. The funding package consists of £360 million direct from government departments to charities such as hospices and victim support charities that are providing vital services and helping vulnerable people through the current crisis; and £370 million for smaller charities, including through a grant to the National Lottery Community Fund. The National Lottery Community Fund is currently discussing with Government on how best to distribute the funding. The Government also announced the Government will match fund whatever the public decides to donate to the BBC’s Big Night In charity appeal on 23 April, starting with a contribution of at least £20 million to the National Emergencies Trust appeal.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-sets-out-extra-750-million-coronavirus-funding-for-frontline-charities 

Community Circular from Community Development, Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Council
 
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council have developed an online information and advice service to residents of the Borough to help with the ongoing Coronavirus COVID-19 response. This includes Business Support, Community Engagement and Health & Wellbeing plus latest updates on all Council Services. This can be accessed via www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/coronavirus/
 
Within the Community Engagement section, there is a Local Support Directory where they are trying to assess the requirements of existing community organisations and charities so that they can support the important work that you are doing within your own areas. We would like to encourage all groups that are carrying out vital work at grass-roots level to add their details to this directory at www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/support-for-community-organisations/ The information you provide will help ensure that regional and central government have a clear understanding of the needs of those working on the ground and also help residents in the Borough to find out what services are available to them. If you do require additional support, please complete the online form and include this information. This will be followed up in due course.

As you are no doubt aware there has been a profound and sudden change in the employment market for job seekers, employees and employers at this time due to the arrival and spread of COVID-19.
 
The Department for Communities is committed to supporting employers, and as part of their support they have opened two dedicated helplines for any employer who needs help to advertise job vacancies or has queries relating to their services for employers.
 
For help and advice on their services contact 0238 237 6692 or 02890 539 458, alternatively you can email dfc.employerservices@nissa.gsi.gov.uk  

The Department of Health has just launched Version Two of the Covid-19 NI mobile app, giving the public up-to-date advice at their fingertips. The new Covid-19 NI version offers improved navigation, more detailed guides, updated links to latest reports and an updated symptom checker based on latest information.

The app continues to help members of the public to:

• decide if they or someone they care for have the symptoms of coronavirus
• understand the severity of their symptoms and what to do and how to cope
• decide if they need to get clinical advice and how to access it
• access specific advice for vulnerable members of the community
• get an isolation note if they are advised to self-isolate

The app is available to download and install at the GooglePlay and Apple AppStore. To download,  search for Covid-19 NI.