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- General information
- Delivering activities and services
- Organisational Consideration / Back Office Support
- Other resources
General Information
1. Prevention
Lifting restrictions does not mean the pandemic is over or that the virus has gone away. Preventing the spread of the virus and managing the risk from covid-19 is still one of the most important considerations. The latest information as always can be found on the government website.
Staying at home if you are unwell or think you may have COVID-19. It is important to stay at home if you feel unwell. This is not just about covid but also reduces the risk of passing on other illnesses onto friends, family, colleagues, and others in your community. Individuals who feel unwell or show signs of the virus including a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste should also book a test as soon as possible. Tests can be booked free of charge via the government website.
Meet outdoors or indoors with windows open / Let fresh air into your home – to reduce the risk of infection by over 70 per cent as coronavirus particles can linger in spaces with no fresh air. Experts advise opening the windows for 10 to 15 minutes regularly or leaving windows slightly open continuously (but make sure you close and lock them if leaving the house.)
Face coverings - Although no longer legally required face coverings are a key way to protect your community. You should still wear a face covering where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet in enclosed and crowded spaces. This could include things like shopping or taking public transport.
If you want to make your own face covering, instructions are available online at the Public Health England Website. The Government website also signposts to the Big Community Sew website which may be helpful for members/individuals who would like to make their own covering with materials from around the home.
Washing your hands regularly. Washing your hands with soap and water or using antibacterial hand gel (70% alcohol content) is still a key prevention measure. Handwashing technique poster.
Covering your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze – This is not just good manners but it also help stop the spread of germs. Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues away responsibly in the bin. If you don’t have a tissue available then cough or sneeze into your elbow and not your hands. Remember to wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
Consider individual risk such as clinical vulnerabilities and vaccination status - this may be in terms of where to meet, gathering size, mask wearing or close contact. But ultimately it is also about behaving in a way which enables people to feel comfortable. If in doubt feel free to ask the individual and don’t be offended if they would prefer to social distance etc.
2. Testing, Track and Trace
Symptomatic Testing – If you feel unwell in any way including the including a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste. You should stay at home and book a test as soon as possible. Tests can be booked free of charge via the government website.
Asymptomatic testing - Rapid coronavirus testing is now available for everyone in England. These tests are only suitable for people with no coronavirus symptoms and who feel well. Rapid testing will play a key role in keeping people safe as restrictions ease. 1 in 3 people with coronavirus don’t have any symptoms but can still pass the virus to others. Getting tested regularly is the only way to know if you have the virus - if people test positive and self-isolate it helps to stop the virus from spreading. Home testing kits can be ordered online to be delivered directly to your home. Tests are available locally at rapid test sites, or boxes of home test kits can be collected from any of these centres (view list of sites here). Appointments must be booked online Find out more and book on the Salford Council website. Home testing kits are also available at many pharmacies across the city along with some leisure centres and libraries.
The NHS COVID-19 app - Organisations and businesses are still encouraged to display QR codes for individuals to check in using the NHS COVID-19 app, to support NHS Test and Trace, although it is no longer a legal requirement. You can create and downloaded QR posters via the gov website to display in your premises.
Find out more about the NHS COVID-19 app and QR posters here.
The government have produced guidance on the test and trace process for employers but ultimately if someone develops symptoms, they should request a free test as soon as their symptoms start.
People are still required by law to self-isolate if required and it will also be an offence to knowingly provide false information about your close contacts to NHS Test and Trace. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in a fine of up to £10,000. These fines also cover attempts to prevent individuals from self-isolating including businesses/organisations who threaten self-isolating staff with redundancy if they do not come to work.
Individuals may be entitled to a one-off payment of £500 through the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme if they are required to stay at home and self-isolate. Individuals are eligible if you live in England and meet all the following criteria:
- you have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace
- you are employed or self-employed
- you cannot work from home and will lose income as a result
- you are claiming at least one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Working Tax Credits, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit
Find out more and apply on the Salford City Council website. Support is also available from the Spirit of Salford helpline for those self-isolating including practical assistance and mental health and wellbeing support. The helpline number is 0800 952 1000 and is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. Alternatively, you can visit this webpage.
Salford City Council have produced a self-isolation support leaflet with advice, tips and links to local support. Download booklet here.
Education setting - We have had a number of queries surround what parents and carers need to know about Covid absences - this is detailed on Salford City Councils website as well as this infographic that has been distributed across GM.
3. Vaccination
Vaccination - The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme is now being rolled out in Salford. Further information can be found on Salford CCG's website. The latest information on eligible cohorts and to book an appointment head to the Salford NHS vaccination website.
Vaccination second doses - Individuals will be notified directly of their second dose appointment details by either text or letter. This will be around 8 weeks after the first dose. You can visit use one of the many walk in centres or clinics across the city.
COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting - Recently there have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after Covid-19 vaccination. Although this condition remains extremely rare there appears to be a higher risk in people shortly after the first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. Public Health England has produced a leaflet that explains what the concern is, the benefits and risks of vaccination, what to look out for after vaccination and taking up second doses. Find out more in this leaflet. Current advice is that those who have received their first dose of AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects should complete the course. This includes people aged 18 to 29 years who are health and social care workers, unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunosuppressed. This helpful graphic breaks down the blood clot risk.
4. Supporting Individuals
Your organisation has played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic and you continue to do so. You will need to continue to play a key role as a trusted organisation to provide clear and updated information.
Keep Sharing Key Messages – As a trusted organisation you play a key role in providing advice and guidance to individuals and the broader community. Encouraging handwashing, the use of face coverings and ensuring social distancing. Along with encouraging individuals undergoing testing and support track and trace advice. All help to keep communities and individuals safe and well. Salford CVS has produced a resource hub where you can find the latest messaging as well as alternative formats. The Cabinet Office has released its latest Covid-19 stakeholder and influencer toolkit which includes key messages around step two on the 'roadmap' out of lockdown, vaccinations and testing. The kit also includes links to resources in community languages. Download the toolkit.
Vaccination - Your group's members or the people you support may have questions about the vaccination and how the appointment system will work. This NHS Salford CCG webpage is full of information to help answer common queries. It explains that people will be contacted about vaccination - they are asked not to call their GP. Please share this information, especially with older and more vulnerable people, to help keep them informed and to protect them against vaccine scams. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has produced a vaccination comms pack for the VCSE sector: The pack can be used by VCSE organisations to share and disseminate information about COVID-19 vaccines through their networks. The pack contains guidance on what vaccines are, avoiding vaccine scams and how to tackle misinformation. A range of assets are available, including resources for British Sign Language users. Download the comms tookit.
Vaccination for unpaid carers - We know that there are potentially thousands of ‘hidden’ carers across the city that are not known to the local NHS or Salford City Council and we are keen to ensure that these people are able to get a vaccination to help protect themselves and the people they care for from Covid. A carer is “anyone who cares, unwaged for a friend or family member, loved one, who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support”. We are now able to offer these carers (aged 16+) a Covid vaccination. If you work with or know anyone that is caring for someone who would not cope without their support to help them to get their appointment through Salford CVS. You can do this by simply passing on this flyer or by helping them to complete this online form.
Hate Crime - You may have members that are experiencing acts of racism, discrimination and verbal abuse with the outbreak of the virus. It is important that all communities feel supported and that acts of discrimination are not tolerated. As always you can contact Greater Manchester Police to report it or your local hate crime reporting centre.
Cyber Crime - Unfortunately, there has been a rise scams linked to COVID-19. This includes phishing emails and attacks with emails that appear to come from the World Health Organisation or other public bodies, fake websites seeking donations or pretending sell in-demand items as well as fraudsters impersonation track and trace officials. The National Centre for Cyber Security has some top tips to help spot suspicious emails and never feel pressured into agreeing with anything and our scams page has further information. We have pulled together some resources on COVID-19 related fraud here.
Delivering Activities and Services
1. Re-Opening Buildings / Activities
As part of step 4 the Government has removed all outstanding legal restrictions on social contact, life events, and open the remaining closed business settings and venues. This means that:
All remaining limits on social contact (currently 6 people or 2 households indoors, or 30 people outdoors) have been removed and there will be no more restrictions on how many people can meet in any setting, indoors or outdoors. There are exceptions linked to boarder control and those self-isolating. As well as for Health and care settings you will continue to maintain appropriate infection prevention and control processes as necessary.
All settings will be able to open, including nightclubs. Large events, such as music concerts and sporting events can resume without any limits on attendance or social distancing requirements.
All restrictions on life events such as weddings, funerals, bar/bat mitzvahs and baptisms will be removed, including the remaining restrictions on the number of attendees. There will be no requirement for table service at life events, or restrictions on singing or dancing.
However this does not simply means organisations can go back to pre-pandemic working or operating models – The government has updated their ‘Working Safely’ guidance to provide examples of sensible precautions to reduce risk in their workplaces.
Organisations should carry out an appropriate risk assessment – a risk assessment should be carried out in line with the HSE guidance and taking into account government guidance. Please see below for more information on Risk Assessment.
Venue Specific Information
Guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities - This guidance covers Community centres, village halls, and other multi-use community facilities support a wide range of local activity.
Heritage locations Guidance for people who work or volunteer in heritage locations. This guidance includes where historic buildings, monuments, sites (including wrecks), parks, gardens or landscapes have some form of public access (including, for example by volunteers onto private land). Social Farms and Gardens have also produced guidance and webinars that may be of interest. We have received enquiries about people accessing their allotments. Salford City Council have provided an update on their website.
Other people's homes Guidance for people working in, visiting or delivering to other people's homes. These include home workers such as repair services, cleaners, cooks and visiting childcare providers as well as home services such as delivery drivers momentarily at the door
Performing arts Guidance for people who work in performing arts, including arts organisations, venue operators and participants. Groups may also find advice from the Musicians Union and the ISM useful
Providers of grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities Guidance for people who work in grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities. Sports clubs should also refer to guidance by Sport England (including details of guidance for each specific sport’s governing body). CIMPSA has also produced industry guidance for leisure facilities.
Restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services Guidance for people who work in or run restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes or takeaways. This includes a range of venue including community café, the provision of food delivery as well as social or similar clubs operating as bars and restaurants.
Shops and branches Guidance for people who work in or run shops, branches, stores or similar environments. The Charity retail association has also produced specific guidance which may be of help.
Protective measures for out-of-school settings - Aimed at providers who run community activities, holiday clubs, after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school provision for children. This guidance contains some specific considerations. If you are delivering youth work then the National Youth Agency guidance may also be helpful.
Events - As mentioned above as part of step 4 and the lifting of restrictions events can take place. As with any event appropriate risk assessments and processes must be in place and if in any doubt the event organisers should contact the Local Authority for advice / guidance.
2. Carrying out a Risk Assessment / Mitigating Risk
Carrying out a risk assessment is a legal requirement when running a UK business and many organisations do them already but you may want to review them as we progress through covid. The process can vary but it basically involves identifying, understanding and evaluating potential hazards. These key principles still apply.
The government have produced resources to help with this including a tool that helps you identify key considerations. The HSE have produced guidelines and templates to help you do this as have the Centre for Assessment.
You should involve your employees when completing the risk assessment as well as considering the needs of your staff, volunteers and beneficiaries. Details of considering individual risk assessments for staff and volunteers are detailed below. You should share the results of your risk assessment with your workforce and be mindful of where you have repurposed space you should consider fire risk assessment as well.
Salford CVS is offering training and support to organisations regarding risk assessments. We are offering free online training sessions on Individual Risk Assessments and Getting Ready to Reopen, as well as one-to-one risk assessment support, review of risk assessments and access to guidance/toolkits. In addition they will be offering monthly update and Q&A sessions. Dates for these sessions can be found on our events page.
Due to the range of activity delivered by VCSE organisations in Salford, it’s impossible to give a comprehensive guide here to risk assessments, but here are some initial thoughts and if you have any queries do not hesitate to contact the team.
The guidance for each particular type of venue detailed above give a range of mitigation and advice on how to adapt your services. These could include
- Additional signage (assets have also been developed as part of Re-opening GM and are available to download here)
- Increased hand washing / sanitising availability
- Limiting the number of people in building / Setting up booking systems (to limit the number of people attending a session.
- Hosting activities outdoors rather than indoors.
Digital Delivery / Alternative Delivery
Throughout COVID-19 a number of organisations have switched to digital delivery models. Delivering services digitally has been our biggest areas of queries second only to video conferencing. You may find it continues to have a place for your services either as a key offer or mixed in with more traditional delivery models
There are some key principles to consider when you look at new ways of delivery.
Start with user needs – spend time understanding what your service users need to do, and which digital channels they find easy to use. See this guide from Cast on the principles behind developing good digital services.
Remember the need to protect the privacy of your users and support good safeguarding practice when users are sharing personal details.
Be ready to test, learn and iterate. A good approach is to try small projects over a short timeframe, then ‘persevere’ with what is working and ‘pivot’ away from ideas that have not worked well. For a lot of charities, the test/learn cycle will be a day or two at this point.
Think about issues around social and financial inclusion. For example, can your users access Wi-Fi? You may want to consider supporting people’s mobile data through top up vouchers or the purchase of Mi-Fi (personal Wi-Fi hotspot e.g. dongles).
Our digital library guide may have some ideas, solutions and suggestions that can get you started or point you in the right direction.
3. Staff and Volunteer Wellbeing
Individuals Risk Assessments - Risk Assessments are key to reopening services to ensure all the risks are considered for staff and volunteers. We have co-developed an Individual COVID-19 Risk Assessment Toolkit to provide step by step guidance to complete these assessments for individuals. This is supported by an 90 minute long workshop on how to complete Individual Risk Assessment using the toolkit that we are delivering free of charge via Zoom. To find out more about our next training event visit the events page on our website or contact the team.
Staff Commuting / Travel – TfGM have a dedicated page offering advice regarding the safest use of public transport at this time both for individuals and looking at staff/volunteers travelling into their workplaces.
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and Cleaning Supplies – Needs will vary between organisations and activities. Supplies are stabilising as we enter recovery. Social Enterprise UK has started to collate a list of social enterprise organisations that are selling PPE equipment and supplies. Organisations may want to also consider signing up for schemes such as InKind Direct. Whilst not providing specialist equipment but it offers an affordable way of purchasing basic supplies etc.
Mini Health Checks are available to Salford front line key workers and volunteers. The checks are carried out at Pendleton and Eccles Gateways with the support of the Health Improvement Service. Find out more.
Working from Home: Mental Health First Aid has produced a toolkit on how to support your mental health while working from home. GMCA has produced some practical tips for looking after your posture and your emotional health. NHS England has some guidance on working from home.
We have gathered some useful resources on looking after your staff and volunteers here.
Organisational Consideration / Back Office Support
1. Remote / Hybrid Working
Many organisations are continuing to work remotely or are considering a hybrid working model as they look at how to deliver their services and support. There are various points to consider including -
Processes: Consider your team’s day-to-day processes and the evolving needs of your organisation. Can these be done when working remotely? Allow for trial-and-error. These processes can change and develop to best suit your team’s needs. Make sure you consider that staff are included in all relevant and necessary communication regardless of their working base. Discuss your plans and arrangements with staff you may find that staff want to return to the workplace due to their home environment (lack of space, poor broadband etc.). These discussions can help you plan staff returns as necessary.
Office Space - This is important both in terms of reopening as mentioned in the section above but also the potential that you may have less available desk space due to your risk assessment or you may need less dedicated desk space due to hybrid working. Likely solutions include “hot desking”, where all staff can sit down at any free desk rather than having their own workspace, and more informal open plan workspaces where hybrid staff can place a laptop and start working. Having fewer staff working in the office at any given time than previously, this provides an opportunity to reconfigure the office to include more meeting rooms or collaboration spaces. Alternatively, it may be possible to repurpose office space, either by using it for some other charity activity, such as service delivery or by subletting it to other organisations or as a space for hire.
Equipment / Technology: You will have probably already considered this during remote working and ensuring that they have the right equipment in place (e.g. remote access and hardware etc.) but it is important to check and review this.
Training - Linked to the point above. It was difficult to deliver training on how to use new tools or enforcing good practise (like only saving files in the cloud) etc during the peak pandemic but now it the time to revisit these things and make sure you have the training and good practise in place to enable hybrid working successfully.
Home Office Set-Up - Hybrid working means that some home working will continue indefinitely then it makes sense to encourage staff to establish a proper home-working environment if this is possible. A good home working environment should include a comfortable and ergonomic desk and chair and good internet connectivity (using a Wi-Fi booster if necessary), in a quiet environment free from as many distractions as possible. Some people may not have the space in their home for a room to be turned into a dedicated home office, but a home working environment can often be made out of a small portion of a living room or kitchen. It may be a good idea to discuss with staff their needs for home working and how you might be able to support them.
Virtual Meetings: - These continue to be part of our ongoing work and we have put a host of resources linked to digital and virtual meetings in the Salford CVS Digital Library which may help. Additionally, we have produced a blog on considerations re hybrid meetings.
Regarding board meetings and AGM’s The Charity Commission has also produced guidance to support. Charities should check if their charity’s governing document allows them to hold meetings online or by telephone. Generally, if there is no such clause in the governing document and you decide to hold meetings over the phone or using digital solutions it is important that you record the decision and that you have done it to demonstrate good governance. This is key because the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 provisions, which permitted charitable companies and CIOs to hold AGMs and other members’ meetings online regardless of their governing documents, ended on 30 March 2021.
2. Dealing with Staff Sickness
Employees who are recommended to self-isolate are entitled to sick leave but not necessarily sick pay, though you may well want to provide this anyway as a matter of being a good employer.
If employees are required to self-isolate due to COVID-19 or displaying a high temperature or a new continuous cough then they would qualify for statutory sick pay subject to meeting eligibility requirements.
Employees are entitled to time off to care for a dependent. There is no statutory right to pay for this time off, but your organisation may already have a policy on this. You may want to consider revisiting this policy for the COVID-19 situation.
Further advice on employee sick leave and sick pay entitlements can be found on the Acas website. Acas has also produced specific advice regarding COVID-19.
3. Job Retention Scheme JRS (Furlough)
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough) has been extended until 30 September 2021 and the level of grant available to employers under the scheme will stay the same until 30 June 2021. From 1 July 2021, the level of grant will be reduced and you will be asked to contribute towards the cost of your furloughed employees’ wages. To be eligible for the grant you must continue to pay your furloughed employees 80% of their wages, up to a cap of £2,500 per month for the time they spend on furlough. More information on this on the government website. Our Deputy Chief Executive shared her experience of the scheme as it has become a significant part of her work over the past few months in this blog
NCVO has also published guidance on how annual leave works when an employee is on furlough.
The Directory of Social Change has produced some top tips on how to manage the human side of furlough extension. Read on their website.
4. Governance
Coronavirus has impacted every organisation in different ways. Even those with business continuity plans were still probably blindsided and surprised by the size and scale of the impact. If you still haven’t implemented a business continuity plan it is still a good idea to put one in place. This checklist from Trusted Supplier Zurich Insurance (PDF, 290KB) helps you think through some of the issues and plan for them. The Charities Facility Management Group has more information on how to develop a business continuity plan. If you do already have a plan now is the time to look at the actions you took during the crisis phase, make amendments and plan for any new challenges.
Managing risk remains vital. Your organisations should already have a risk register which you need to monitor and review. NCVO have a useful template and guide which may help you to put one in place. After completing your risk assessment consider whether your insurance cover needs to be reviewed. Pay particular attention to business premises, employers’ and public liability insurance policies. Check out the Association of British Insurer's guidance or contact your insurer or broker directly. NCVO’s information on scenario planning can also help your board assess uncertainties in your external environment and make informed choices about the future.
Strategic plans and priorities may need to be reviewed whilst ensuring you stay true to your organisational purpose and values.
We cover virtual meetings earlier in this guide which can support the hosting of board meetings and AGM’s and you may find this guide for charity trustees from ICSA useful when working with your board. If you are a registered charity or CIO it is now important that you check if you have clauses in your groups or organisations governing documents that allow you to meet virtually or to use telephone facilities. If there is no such clause in the governing document and you decide to hold meetings over the phone or using digital solutions, you should record this decision and that you have done this to demonstrate good governance of your charity. This is all the more important because the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, which permitted charitable companies and CIOs to hold AGMs and other members’ meetings online regardless of their governing documents, ended on 30 March 2021. Further details can be found in the Charity Commission Guidance.
As always if you need further support with your organisations plans and governance the Salford CVS development team are here to help and support.
5. General Finances
Finances continue to be impacted as we move through recovery. Organisations may need to budget for increased costs and review income forecasts as there may be ongoing impacts on fundraising and trading. You may wish to consider:
- Focus on cash flow management.
- Know what your fixed costs are and when you will need to pay them.
- Delay committing to any expenditure that you can.
- Chase all outstanding debts.
- Invoice for all services already delivered and then ensure that these invoices are paid.
- If you are receiving funding, submit any required reports on time to make sure that you receive future instalments on time.
- You may want to adjust your budget for increased contingency costs over the next financial year
- Talk to your bank manager and see if they will offer you an overdraft facility (even if you don’t need one right now).
- If you have loan repayments the lender may be willing to delay the capital repayment.
- Implement a recruitment freeze on all vacant posts.
- The Charity Finance Group has compiled a guide for charity finance professionals and Good Finance has also developed a resource hub designed to support charities and social enterprises
- This guide from The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales highlights a number of key issues arising from COVID-19 that may require consideration in connection with trustees’ annual reports and accounts for charities.
- Tax doesn’t affect all organisations but if you have concerns with regards to any tax payments the HMRC has set up a dedicated helpline on 0800 0159 559.
Business grants were originally made available during the lockdown period for which many charities were eligible. There are now new grant pots available for organisations affected by the National or the previous Tier 3 restrictions - These are two separate grants pots and must be applied for via Salford City Council. Further details including how to apply can be found on the council's website.
6. Dealing with Funders / Commissioner
Speak to your funders about the impact of cancelling or delaying project activities which are part of funding agreements. The Association of Charitable Funders have encouraged funders to contact their grantees and discuss how they can best support them.
A number of funders have already made statements including Salford City Council, NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group and Salford CVS. This statement is still in place and was reissued in November 2020 - you can read our joint statement here.
Greater Manchester public sector commissioners to the VCSE sector and the National Lottery Community Fund have also published statements.
This Procurement Policy Note for gov.uk sets out guidance for all public bodies on payment of suppliers to ensure service continuity during/after COVID 19.
7. Fundraising / Income Generation
Organisations will need to look at how they can continue to fundraise and generate income.
Salford CVS continues to provide information about available grants and funding via our website as well as delivering a range of grant programmes ourselves. In addition, we provide a range of training to support groups to write effective bids. If you have any queries regarding funding our team is here to help so do not hesitate to get in touch.
Other resources that may be of help or interest:
- Reason Digital have put together a handbook with tips and techniques to help boost your digital fundraising. It also includes great examples of successful digital fundraising campaigns.
- The Institute of Fundraising has developed guidance for fundraisers in relation to COVID-19. ]
- The Fundraising Regulator have published a blog covering the key points to consider to ensure a safe and responsible return to fundraising.
- Salford City Council have partnered with Crowdfunder UK and there is a dedicated Crowdfund Salford platform where you can host your crowdfunding campaign and have the opportunity to apply for additional match funding from the Council.
8. Data Protection and Cyber Security
Data Protection is not a barrier to enabling home working or changing the way you deliver service to meet individual’s needs at this unique time but you still need to consider the basic principle such as data security when making a decision. The ICO has a resource hub with resources and some of the commonly asked queries at the moment. The GM VCSE Information Governance Group is also sending out regular updates aimed at Data Protection Leads within organisations. If you wish to be added to the mailing list please contact marie.wilson@salfordcvs.co.uk
Unfortunately, when we have emergency situations there are a small number of people trying to take advantage of the situation. There has been a rise scams linked to COVID-19. The National Centre for Cyber Security has some top tips to help spot suspicious emails and never feel pressured into agreeing with anything and our scams page has further information. If you receive any dubious emails – including those claiming to offer support related to COVID-19 you can report them to report@phishing.gov.uk, the NCSC’s automated programme will immediately test the validity of the site and any sites found to be phishing scams will be removed immediately.
We have pulled together some resources on COVID-19 related fraud here.
If you have any queries about data protection and your work always feel free to ask further questions and if you’re unsure contact us for further support.
Other resources
We've compiled some key up-to-date information from the government, NHS, awareness-raising resources and guidance from VCSE organisations.
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