As VCSE groups and organisations plan to return to activities and open up community centres and buildings, it’s essential to review your risk assessments to ensure your activities and buildings are safe for staff, volunteers and the public.

There are three parts to risk assessments and this forms the basis of your Risk Assessment Framework:

To date over £42 million has been paid in government grants to Salford businesses- have you applied?

There is still funding available and new eligibility criteria has been added to the Discretionary Grant scheme to support more businesses in Salford. These funds though, as per government instruction, will close during August 2020, so you need to act fast to ensure you do not miss out.
More information is detailed below and available at:

There is still funding available and new eligibility criteria has been added to the Discretionary Grant scheme to support more businesses - including charities - in Salford.

These funds though, as per government instruction, will close during August 2020, so you need to act fast to ensure you do not miss out.

More information is detailed below and available at:

Manchester International Festival has teamed up with Paradise Works, an artist-led studio community on the banks of the Irwell, for a very special Festival in My Neighbourhood – reimagined in the light of COVID-19.

Take a Look Whats On at the Hershel Weiss Mesanchei Lev Summer Tent in Kosher Savers car park this summer 

Sunday 2nd August - A Popping Launch. With free arts and craft bags and popcorn for all

Monday 3rd August - More Free Gifts and free candyfloss from 1pm 

Tuesday 4th August - Enjoy a Healthy Tuesday. Come and ger a voucher to purchase fruit for a fresh fruit salad in Kosher Savers together with design a fruit craft

Strategic review of NHS leadership priorities

Nuffield Foundation's research is working to understand and address the social implications of COVID-19.

They have awarded £2 million for research that will help identify how to mitigate the social impacts of the pandemic, particularly for those who are worst affected. Their partner organisations, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, the Ada Lovelace Institute, and the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory are also responding to the pandemic.

GM BAME Network, supported by GMCVO, have launched an emergency grants programme to support small (income under £10,000) GM BAME led VCSE organisations and communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between July and December 2020 GM BAME Network will be giving out a total of £225,000 in grants.

The grants are funded by Comic Relief and the National Emergency Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Atiha Chaudry, Greater Manchester BAME Network said:

Issues and concerns about returning to school or college have been turned into resource packs of teaching materials, resources for young people and parents.

They are  a mixture of information leaflets, short films, advice and guidance, signposting to social prescribing activities etc. There are three packs: primary, secondary and FE – all packs include SEND specific materials where available.

The government has published guidance on face coverings, their role in reducing the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), the settings in which they are recommended, and how they should be safely used and stored. This information is based on current scientific evidence and is subject to change.

Salford City Council's customer services team is back in the Gateway centres to help residents face to face with urgent council related enquiries.

Safety is our priority and we have worked hard to make sure residents can safely visit Broughton Hub and the Gateway centres in Swinton, Eccles, Pendleton and Walkden.

What to expect when you visit

Government have updated their guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test and how to get tested.

You can get a throat and nose swab test for whether you currently have coronavirus. This is part of the 5-pillar strategy for coronavirus testing. Testing is most effective within 3 days of symptoms developing.

NCVO are working with other infrastructure bodies including NAVCA, Children England, Clinks and Locality to understand your experiences of delivering public service contracts during the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown.

Government has refreshed its coronavirus communications materials.

This includes a new campaign; Enjoy Summer Safely.

The Enjoy Summer Safely campaign has public health and safety at it's core, inspiring the public to get back to normal spending habits, but doing it safely. Imagery uses those small businesses and moments that have been missed during COVID-19.

Resources available include:

To better understand the short- and long-term impact of the pandemic on UK communities, The Young Foundation launched two projects focused on hearing directly from people all over the country.

Thursday 23 July 2020 from 3.30pm.

The third in the Build Back Better webinar series will hear from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham; Mo Isap Co Chair for GM LEP, lead for education and future skills and founder of IN4.0 Group; Cllr Elise Wilson, leader of Stockport Council , GM LEP member and GMCA lead for Economy; Mark Hughes, Chief Executive of the Growth Company and facilitated by Michael Taylor, Head of Regional Affairs, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit and Safety4Sisters have created a practitioners guide for supporting women at risk of violence and abuse with no recourse to public funds.

The guide includes:

Filippo Oncini, a researcher at the University of Manchester, is conducting a research study on the ways food support providers are dealing with the outbreak of Covid-19.

The research aims to explore in depth the obstacles, the needs and the prospects of the food providers active in Greater Manchester. Your participation is very important, and to thank you for taking part, a donation to a charity of your choice will be made. If you would like to participate please:

National Voices with Traverse, Healthwatch England and PPL would like to invite you to a free webinar.

The Doctor Will Zoom You Now: getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience.

Friday 24 July, 11am - 12pm.

You are invited to join to discuss findings and insight from their recent research about people's experiences of remote and virtual consultations and appointments.

Over 120,000 volunteers tested across England between 1 May and 1 June as part of the country’s largest study into coronavirus.

The research, published on the 15 July, examined levels of infection in the general population in England and has been posted by Imperial College London. The report will undergo peer review before a final report is published.

Collecting customer and visitor details for contact tracing.

As part of the ICO's guidance on COVID-19 response, they have published advice on collecting customer and visitor details for contact tracing.

They provide advice for organisations and small businesses that are asked by government to collect and retain customer and visitor information, for a limited time period, for the purposes of a COVID-19 contact tracing scheme.

Translators Without Borders (TWB) Glossaries are a tool to assist humanitarian field workers and interpreters working on responses across the globe. 

Open for use by the entire humanitarian community, the glossaries are dynamic and can be expanded over time to include more terminology, subjects, and languages.

Working in partnership with TFGM and GMCA, the Growth Company has this week launched Safely Reopening GM. 

This co-ordinated awareness campaign designed to ensure that employers and employees in Greater Manchester can access the information they need to support the safe return to work as the economy starts to reopen.

Maximus Training is offering fully funded online courses to residents of Greater Manchester as part of the Adult Education Budget

The training courses can help with wellbeing, increasing knowledge, gaining confidence and enhancing abilities. They can be undertaken by staff, volunteers, people in the community and people that you may be currently working with. This can boost employee engagement and upskill your workforce.

If your organisation is looking to recruit a trustee that can support the charity leadership to become more digital then join the Tech for Good online Digital Trustee training session. 

The session will take place on Wednesday 22nd July  6pm - 9pm 

Register for this free training by following the link here. 

Vulnerable people are now able to sign up for priority shopping delivery slots via Salford Health Improvement Team

Salford Health Improvement Team now has access to the new Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) system. 

This means that those people who are vulnerable and not shielding can now sign up and have priority access to delivery slots for one of two supermarkets.

The National Lottery Community Fund has announced it is working alongside five expert partnerships to ensure almost £45m of National Lottery funding reaches communities most vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19. 

The move is part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s COVID-19 emergency response and means it will benefit from the partnerships’ collective expertise and networks, to ensure funding is distributed to even more communities.

Community Hubs have been established in each local authority area to provide support for the most vulnerable in each borough.

The hubs coordinate support for those who do not have any other way of sourcing food and medical supplies. They are also helping vulnerable residents to access hardship grants.

The phone numbers for all ten boroughs are below.

Please only contact the hubs if you require help accessing food or medical supplies and have no other means of doing this:

The Social Enterprise Support Fund will provide essential financial support between £10,000 and £300,000 to help social enterprises during COVID-19.

Five social enterprise support agencies have come together to deliver the new fund which launches today. Big Issue Invest, The Key Fund, Resonance, the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) and UnLtd will jointly deliver £18.7 million in grants, with support from CAF Venturesome, the Young Foundation and Ashoka.

AbilityNet believes in a digital world accessible to all.

Technology has never been more important than in this time of physical-distancing. The right technology can transform the lives of older and disabled people.

It can reduce isolation, improve confidence and promote independence, and is a vital way to connect with others and access essential online services.

Salford Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS) create a 'Coronaquilt' art project

As part of Refugee Week 2020 the project was inspired by Art Refuge which is a charity supporting displaced people through art and art therapy. EMTAS invited Salford pupils to create a square image on the theme 'imagine'. The square could be done using collage, paint, drawing, photography or text.

University Academy 92 (UA92) are offering 92 grants to enable Greater Manchester residents to access higher education

The Kickstart grant is offering grants of £5,000 to people who have been financially affected by Coronavirus in Greater Manchester. The grant will help to gain access to higher education.

GMCVO, working in partnership with 10GM, have launched the second stage of a grants programme to support adults from communities of identity or experience, based in Greater Manchester, that may struggle to achieve high levels of mental wellbeing.

For this second stage we have made an adjustment to our eligibility which now allows organisations with an income of up to £50,000, in its most recent full financial year, to apply. 

Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel have published the results of their GM Big Disability Survey: Covid-19.

The Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel is a Greater Manchester wide, pan-impairment Panel, made up of 14 Disabled People’s Organisations (organisations that are majority led and staffed by disabled people), and is convened by the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People.

Extremely vulnerable people who were most at risk from contracting coronavirus in England will no longer have to shield from 1 August

Advice for parents, guardians and carers on how to help and support a child or young person with mental ill health, suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviours.

Drawing on written evidence already submitted to the inquiry on the Unequal Impact: coronavirus and the impact on people with protected characteristics, the sub-inquiry will focus specifically on the impact on BAME people during the pandemic.

Get psychological first aid (PFA) training and help people with different needs to cope with the emotional impact of COVID-19.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is the globally recommended training for supporting people during emergencies and offers guidance on delivering psychosocial care in the immediate aftermath of the emergency event.

On this course, you’ll explore the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and what you can do to help people cope.

As lockdown restrictions start to ease and businesses begin to reopen, the ICO has set out the key steps organisations need to consider around the use of personal information.

Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said:

The Fundraising Regulator has published key principles COVID-19 guidance, in consultation with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive.

The government has updated its guidance for people who are shielding taking into account that coronavirus COVID-19 infection rates have decreased significantly over the last few weeks.

• £6million of new funding announced for 100 military charities across the UK
• Consultation will be launched in July on tax relief for businesses that employ veterans
• Enhanced support for ex-service personnel announced during Armed Forces week part of government’s drive to make the UK the best country to be a veteran

The government have published guidance for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Providers of out-of-school and holiday activities operate from a range of premises including schools and other regulated educational institutions, by arrangement with the proprietors of those institutions, and other community premises such as village halls, by arrangement with the owners or managers of those premises.

Wellness Wednesday 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd July 10am-11.30am 

Wellness Wednesdays is a 4 week  Zoom course aimed at helping you to improve your wellness and take more active care of yourself. Wellness is absolutely crucial to living a better life and this course will cover some key ways that we can all look after ourselves and lead a more fulfilling life!

Join the Caribbean African Health Network on  Saturday 27th June to celebrate Windrush Day 2020 

This year the Caribbean African Health Network will be holding the celebrations on an online platform due to the pandemic. You will be able to watch and engage with them from your front room because thwy have a three hour programme of activities and information for you to enjoy.

Public Health England (PHE) has today issued a heat warning encouraging vulnerable people to take care during the exceptionally hot weather forecast this week.

People ‘shielding’ indoors from COVID-19, older people, those with underlying health conditions, and very young children are all more vulnerable from the higher temperatures.

Some of the key things we can all consider doing during the hot weather to ensure we enjoy the sun while staying safe, include:

Join Tech for Good Live for a Digital Trustees training event - 22nd July 6pm - 9pm 

Tech for Good Live are a community-based organisation and aim to promote, encourage, and raise awareness of the benefits of using technology for good; how to do it right and how to act more ethically in the tech sector.

Millions of people shielding from coronavirus (COVID-19) will be advised they can spend more time outside their homes from Monday 6 July, the Health and Social Care Secretary has announced.

• Advisory guidance to be eased for 2.2 million clinically extremely vulnerable people across England, as virus infection rates continue to fall

New data from Ipsos MORI and the Centre for Ageing Better suggests that the coronavirus crisis risks creating a 'lost generation' of retirees facing poor health and financial insecurity in retirement.

The Centre for Ageing Better has warned that the COVID-19 crisis could lead to a generation of people in their 50s and 60s entering retirement in poor health and without enough money to support themselves. 

Europia has updated their services in response to COVID-19. 

Europia has been working tirelessly to make sure EU nationals living across Greater Manchester have all the support they need during these uncertain times. Below you will find a round-up of the projects they are currently working on related to COVID-19.

They have created a new website - you can visit Europia's new website here.

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (IoF) and Charity Finance Group (CFG) say that charities are facing a huge predicted loss to their income as they continue to grapple with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and continued social distancing measures.

Nothing about us without us: Five principles for the next phase of the Covid-19 response

The Income Maximisation Campaign will assist those who have been affected financially by Covid-19.

Greater Manchester Law Centre will offer free and confidential financial support to help narrow inequalities within Greater Manchester.

The financial support includes income checks, benefit and government grants, and help through the application process either by the Greater Manchester Law Centre team or by other agencies.

One of Greater Manchester’s oldest charities, Henshaws, has supported people with sight loss through the Spanish influenza of 1918 and is now supporting its community through the current coronavirus pandemic.

The Mental Health Transformation Programme May bulletin from Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.

Read the bulletin here  

12 furloughing need-to-knows for employees and small firms.

For some employees and employers without HR departments, furloughing can seem complex.

The Flowhesion Foundation (Bolton-based, GM reach) have produced 10 videos on staying active during the lockdown in English and Urdu commissioned by GM Walking. They offer advice and guidance on how South-Asian communities in particular women can get the most out of being healthy, proactive in the home environment during the current covid19 pandemic. 

Deeds Not Words

Join #WeStandTogether for another difficult dialogue discussion on Monday 6th July at 6pm.

Support a new study on the impact of Covid-19!

The UCL Department of Behavioural Science and Health and the UCL Centre for Behaviour Change, in collaboration with Action on Smoking and Health, Cancer Research UK and Public Health England, is launching a new survey about HEalth BEhaviours in relation to COvid-19 (HEBECO Study).

Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN) launched for Greater Manchester.

IMHN represents a network for people living with mental health across Greater Manchester.

Appointed by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, the IMHN has a focus on monitoring and developing mental health services and thus enabling a voice for the wider community.

Wai Yin Society creates online learning activities.

Report on the COVID-19 economic response and learning the policy lessons from the financial crisis.

The Bounce back Britain report from Social Enterprise UK and the Social Market Foundation looks at what lessons must be learned from the policy response to the 2008 financial crisis.

Its key focus is that for Britain to “bounce back” from coronavirus, business must spend more money on investing in innovation, training and start-ups.

During these unprecedented times Europia is offerings bespoke support for Polish community members aged over 50 in Greater Manchester. 

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Salford Pride is taking place in a different way this year.

Eight hours of Pride will be held online with a Salford City Radio Takeover, The Pink Picnic Digital and a Zoom Afterparty.

Salford City Radio Takeover | 4pm - 6pm

Gather your friends and family and start the party at Salford City Radio, 94.4FM for The Pink Picnic Takeover, playing pride anthems, with live music and special guests.

Refugee Week is coming! 15th-21st June 2020

Refugee Week is a chance to celebrate and stand together with refugees. It is a place to connect with different communities and to develop an understanding of misplacement.

To help spread the word of Refugee Week, a social media pack has been created to increase awareness and reach new people.

Across Greater Manchester we’ve seen youth and play providers from the public and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sectors lead an incredible response across communities.

Last week Public Health England published their review of disparities in risks and outcomes for COVID-19.

A fund has been launched by campaigners, organisers and activists of colour in response to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 that has brought attention to structural racism faced by people of colour in the UK.

Wednesday 24 - Thursday 25 June 2020.

Understand which digital trends are most critical for good governance and what every charity board should be doing to delegate digital effectively during the pandemic.

It is important for trustees and charity leaders to keep up-to-date with regulations and governance guidelines, particularly during challenging times. Civil Society is holding a trustee training course, which will be taking place online.

Two leaflets have been produced to signpost adults and young people to mental health services in Greater Manchester. 

If you find yourself feeling anxious, stressed or overwhelmed, there’s support out there for you.

Download the appropriate leaflet for more information:

The Energise Centre is hosting a series of online events - here are the events for June 

Monday 8th 11am - 12pm  Room with a view - Creativity Group Challenge. Paint, draw or sketch with us a view from your room.      

Tuesday 16th 11am-12pm– Energise Bingo – Just for fun. 

Tuesday 23rd 11am-12pm– Chair-based Exercise Class. Gentle chair based exercise class to help keep you active at home.

In response to Covid-19 Seetec have a new course for June to support in improving mental health and wellbeing for people in Salford.

The course is designed to help people to understand and manage your emotional health, and how it links to physical wellbeing, Seetec will help you take the first steps towards a healthier and happier new you.

Their accredited health and wellbeing courses include:

With more people now returning to work, and to reflect government advice for social distancing on public transport, from Tuesday 2 June 2020 Greater Manchester concessionary travel pass holders* will no longer be able to travel for free on public transport before 9.30am on weekdays.

The offer was introduced on Friday 20 March to help pass holders shop during ring-fenced hours at supermarkets and attend medical appointments.

Lloyds Bank Foundation have published an analysis report on how charities are responding to COVID-19.

The report covers how charities and those they support are inevitably impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Many charities, particularly those that are small and local like those funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, are stepping up to provide critical support to people facing complex social issues.

Join Lloyds Bank Foundation webinar to help you prepare for reopening your charity shops

Thursday 4 June 2020, 14:00 – 15:30 BST

With charity shops preparing to reopen their doors from the 15 June, navigating the practicalities of opening shops is complex. However, thinking through how you can enable your team to return to their roles will ensure they can deliver the measures required and feel valued by your organisation.

The National Lottery Community Fund have launched a £200m fund aimed primarily at small to medium organisations in England.

The fund is part of the Government’s £750m financial support package for charities and social enterprises announced by Government on April 8. TNL  Community Fund will distribute the Government funding alongside National Lottery funding, to support organisations to continue to deliver services to people and communities affected by COVID-19.

The government has set out its plan to return life to as near normal as we can, for as many people as we can, as quickly and fairly as possible in order to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that is safe and continues to protect our NHS.

The government has published staying safe outside your home guidance on what the new rules will mean.

Public Health England has published a review of data on disparities in the risk and outcomes from COVID-19.

The review confirms that the impact of COVID-19 has replicated existing health inequalities and, in some cases, has increased them. 

Nationwide believe everyone should have a place fit to call home.

NHS Salford CCG want to know how the current situation is affecting families in Salford.

They are working with partners to understand how best to support the people of Salford during this pandemic. To help NHS Salford CCG to get a better picture of family life in Salford, they are asking people to fill out a survey.

Whoever sends in a completed survey will be entered into NHS Salford's free prize draw for a chance to win £40 of Love to Shop vouchers.

West Locality 'lockdown' online youth provision -contact workers via Bridgewater Youth Club page on Facebook or email chris.rice@salford.gov.uk 

Monday 

3-4pm drop-in; watch a film and discuss 

6-7.30pm online LGBTQ and youth group

Tuesday

3-4pm drop-in 

6-7.30pm online girls group

Wednesday

1-3pm creative writing

3-4pm drop-in

6-8pm online Walkden music project

This year Volunteers' Week will be taking place in a different way due to the current Covid-19 situation.

The findings of surveys conducted by Ubele suggest that if the crisis continues beyond three months after lockdown, 9 out of 10 of BAME-led micro and small organisations could close.

The surveys indicated that close to 90% of the 137 respondents could close permanently if the crisis extends into June.

BAMEStream is a collective of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) practitioners, therapists, policy experts, activists and academics who specialise in the areas of mental health and therapy.

Culture Secretary accelerates release of funding in further boost for charities and social enterprises across the country.

• Building on the unprecedented £750 million charity support package from government
• £200 million of funding distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund, open for bids from small charities on Friday

Shared tips to help to breathe during lockdown & Covid-19.

BreathChamps CIC has received Awards for All funding from the National Lottery to set up a Greater Manchester ‘Breathe Better in Lockdown’ Facebook group where professionals and citizens can share breathing tips.

The coronavirus has affected all our lives, from how we work and shop to how we travel. 

Getting our future transport network right will be central to getting more and more of Greater Manchester moving again. Transport for Greater Manchester want to keep passengers safe, support our economy and ensure our recovery is sustainable, so we can cut congestion and have cleaner air.

We need key workers, and they need a real living wage. 

Delivery drivers, care workers, supermarket assistants, cleaners, the NHS and many many more, who are doing an incredible job at keeping our country going during the coronavirus crisis. Despite the huge contribution key workers are making right now, over 1 million key workers are not receiving a real Living Wage - which is the independent rate calculated annually on the cost of living. 

• Mayor calls on ministers to support extra funding for cleaner vehicles
• Money would also help to support small businesses, sole traders and taxi drivers
• Funding commitment needed to keep air quality gains and support green recovery

Greater Manchester is calling on Government to support its plans to ‘build back better’ and help to tackle air pollution as the city-region sets out ambitions for a green economic recovery.

HMRC has a range of online support for employers.

Find out if you can use the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme, or how to make a claim on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, by joining one of the following live webinars.

They're interactive giving you the opportunity to ask questions using the on-screen text box.

There are a limited number of spaces, so save your place now.

Salford Music Festival will be going digital for its 10th anniversary next weekend (29 - 31 May), with a massive line-up confirmed.

Peter Hook, John Cooper Clarke, and ex-Hacienda heavyweights Graeme Park and Dave Haslam will top the bill of music, poetry and spoken word.

The festival normally takes place in September, but organisers have moved it forward in the calendar to bring some 'much needed cheer'.

Doctors of the World

Further to recent changes in the Government and NHS official guidance on COVID-19, Doctors of the World UK have been updating its translated guidance in 60 languages. The updated version includes changes in social distancing rules and the new symptom of coronavirus. 

Follow the link to the website here.

Women's Aid have published safety advice for survivors.

COVID-19 will have serious impacts on the lives of women and children. Survivors are telling Women's Aid that they are feeling unsafe with the prospect of being isolated in the house with their perpetrator.

Women's Aid wants to reassure survivors and local specialist services that they are here for you and they are doing everything they can to support you during this challenging time.

As the Covid-19 crisis hit, NPC released State of the Sector 2020: The condition of charities before the COVID-19 crisis.

The coronavirus crisis has hit workers hard: the numbers of those furloughed and those newly claiming Universal Credit illustrates the scale.

To date, however, there has been very limited information about which types of people have been most affected. In their spotlight, the Resolution Foundation begin to fill this gap with flash findings from their new coronavirus survey.

Today The Baring Foundation's Strengthening Civil Society programme, which supports civil society to use the law to achieve social change, is launching three new funding streams to support their grant holders and broader civil society to tackle the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This funding will run throughout 2020 and represents a commitment of up to £1,000,000 to supporting civil society at this time.

The Government has launched a major effort to tackle loneliness during the coronavirus outbreak and period of social distancing.

When launching the plan, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

Like so many other areas of society, coronavirus has caused a huge shift in the way that community transport is operating at the moment.

Since lock-down began, the Community Transport Association (CTA) has been surveying over 200 CTA members to get a clear picture of the changes that have taken place across the sector.

The Insitute of Fundraising, along with NCVO and Charity Finance Group and supported by PwC are working together to understanding the current and future financial impact of coronavirus on the charity sector.

It is more important than ever that practitioners, academics and people with lived experience feel supported and informed to enable people living with dementia to continue to live the life they want for longer.

So the Empowered Conversations are launching the ‘In Conversation with…” virtual series; hosting interactive talks from nationally recognised experts and speakers to bring hearts and minds together and improve outcomes for people living with dementia.

Do you have MS and need financial help and advice?

The MS Society's Improving Quality of Life Project (IQL) provides financial and emotional support for people with MS in Bolton, Manchester and Salford. 

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 18-24 May 2020.

The theme this year is kindness - one thing that we have seen all over the world is that kindness is prevailing in uncertain times.  

We have learnt that amid the fear, there is also community, support and hope. 

The added benefit of helping others is that it is good for our own mental health and wellbeing. It can help reduce stress and improve your emotional wellbeing. 

The Tech for Good Live Volunteer programme is a partnership between Salford CVS, 10GM members, other VCSE infrastructure organisations within Greater Manchester and Tech for Good Live.

Join on Thursday 21st May - 1.00pm - 4.00pm to hear about:

As we think about our recovery phase …

• What pressures and changes are we expecting will result from this time?
• What can we do to face these together?
• What opportunities are emerging?
• What can we do to ensure we capture these?

Thinking about the future …

Chairs of GMCVO, the GM VCSE Leadership Group, the GM BAME Network and GM BAME SE Network and the GM Social Enterprise Network have written to the Chancellor, the Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak asking for more support for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.

Community (Youth) on Solid Ground (YOSG) project updates and what they are doing to support young people and the community during Covid - 19. 

During these bizarre times have affected C(Y)OSG’s normal working practice, within projects and face to face time with over 400 young people.

Before the coronavirus outbreak Tech and Tea, a five-week course, was supporting people aged 65+ to develop their digital skills.

Over the past five years, 260 courses have been delivered and more than 2,000 people have taken part.

The Charity Commission has issued an alert providing information and advice for charities about coronavirus (COVID-19) related fraud and cybercrime.

Fraudsters are exploiting the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in order to carry out fraud and cybercrime. Police have reported an increase in coronavirus related scams.

The Charity Commission is issuing this alert to help charities minimise the risk of becoming a victim of such frauds and cyber-attacks.

Written materials in alternative formats

Easy read versions of the Prime Minister's letter to the public and an easy read Covid-19 information leaflet can be downloaded via the links below:

The government has today (8th May 2020) announced up to £16 million to provide food for those who are struggling as a result of coronavirus.

The programme will provide millions of meals over the next 12 weeks and be delivered through charities including FareShare and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme).

Society Inc. has set up a fundraiser to provide their clients with food, care and craft parcels. 

Recognising the tremendous pressure that charity leaders are under as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) has produced a briefing on the challenges faced by VCSE leaders during the Covid-19 crisis. 

Read the full briefing here  

National Autistic Society (NAS)

New additions to the NAS website include:

• Health, wellbeing and mental health (including the updated guidance on going out)
• Social care
• Education and school

The NAS has even more resources on their website they include

Understanding the mental health effects of COVID-19

Healthcare professionals and researchers from the University of Oxford, Kings College London and University of Warwick want the general public and health and care professionals to tell us about the mental health challenges they are facing due to COVID-19.  They will use this information to build better tools to monitor mental health and support people through this crisis and beyond.

£100,000 has been allocated to support people experiencing extreme disadvantage in Greater Manchester through the coronavirus pandemic.

The £100,000 donation has come from the Lankelly Chase Foundation and will go to disabled people’s organisations and community organisations supporting those at risk of domestic abuse.

COVID-19 emergency resources

The Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People have produced some useful resources including letters for personal assistants and support workers, Emergency Health Passports and a self advocacy leaflet.

For over 45 years the Manchester Relief In Need group of charitable trusts has been offering assistance to people in poverty in Manchester. 

The Greater Manchester (GM) Disabled People's Panel is an independent strategic body made up of disabled people's organisations from across Greater Manchester.

All of the members are disabled people and they seek to influence policy to support the rights of disabled people in GM.

They also scrutinise, consult and advise the Mayor of GM Andy Burnham and the GM Combined Authority.

How to produce video content remotely.

Charity Digital have shared the innovative ways video content can be created remotely. Video content can be produced by external or internal professionals, and low-cost software can help charity producers create online tutorials, fundraising, and virtual content.

8 May 2020 marks 75 years since VE (Victory in Europe) Day when the Second World War came to an end in Europe.

The long-anticipated news resulted in spontaneous celebrations breaking out across the nation. A national holiday was declared and people from all walks of life came together to mark the moment. 

Useful resources to aid frontline volunteers and staff speaking with those who are struggling with their mental health.

Many of our members are now receiving calls from people struggling with their mental health. In some cases, these calls are from calls from people who are considering taking their own lives.  

Samaritans

The Samaritans website provides a host of support tools:

Can your business help with a bulk donation?

Our frontline charities are in need of:

The DCMS Committee has criticised Government failures to adequately address the crisis of UK charities hit by plunging incomes as demands for help soar as a result of Covid-19. In their report MPs pay tribute to the courage of charity workers describing them as real heroes on the frontline.

Walking during Covid-19; information and resources

GM Walking, GM Moving & GreaterSport have a new campaign to #KeepGMMoving. Residents across Greater Manchester are being encouraged to keep their energy up despite the Covid 19 lockdown.

Visit the website for links to their Facebook page and other resources 

National Voices launches 'Our COVID Voices' website

National Voices, a coalition of health and social care charities in England, have launched a new website where people living with health and care needs can share their stories about life in lockdown.

Information and advice for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations during the coronavirus outbreak.

The voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector plays a key role across the country, positively impacting the life of many.

Government has published advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment, as well as local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and those who provide care and support.

The guidance sets out the main messages for individuals and organisations that can support planning, and help slow the transmission of the coronavirus as the outbreak progresses across the country.

True Vision a police-funded web site designed to provide you with information about Hate Crime has some useful resources about Covid-10, misinformation and conspiracy theories. 

There is also information on how to report a hate crime and information videos from the Metropolitan Police Service for communities about their rights to be protected from hate crimes linked to Covid-19. 

Power to Change, the independent trust that supports community businesses in England, is launching up to £12 million of emergency support to provide both immediate and medium-term help for community businesses facing a loss of trading income during the coronavirus crisis.

The crisis has highlighted the vital role that community businesses play in reviving local assets, protecting the services that people rely on, and addressing local needs.

The Charity Service have redesigned, updated and relaunched their website.

As a registered charity since September 1990, The Charity Service offers grant funding to other charities, voluntary organisations and CIC’s operating within Greater Manchester.

The new site offers an improved user experience making it easier to navigate around the website, to understand what the Charity Service do, how they do it and the personalised service that they can provide.

Kooth online counselling now available to all young people in Greater Manchester. 

All children and young people in Greater Manchester can now access free online counselling and emotional well-being support.

You are invited to join forces with We Stand Together in their next dialogue event 'Cohesion a Force to Combat Crisis'

On Monday 4th May at 6pm join We Stand Together via Zoom 

Commercial tenants unable to pay rent because of Coronavirus will be protected from eviction

The Government has announced a three month protection for organisations from being evicted due to non-payment of rent.

The Empowered Conversations team are offering free online group chats for Salford people living with dementia

Join in for group chats for carers and Come & Sing sessions every week. 

If you are interested,

Families can now apply for Healthy Start food vouchers without a health professional's signature on the form.

Reopening of household waste and recycling centres in Salford

Some household waste and recycling centres in Salford will reopen on Saturday 2 May 2020.

Keep enjoying Salford Libraries

Our city libraries may be closed but there are still lots of great resources available to keep your mind active. If you have a Salford Libraries membership you can access the following digital resources:

A donation of 14,000 toothbrushes to homelessness charity Emmaus Salford has put a smile on the face of workers at charities, groups and volunteers across the Greater Manchester city region.

Millions of vulnerable people and their families will be able to directly call on the army of NHS Volunteer Responders, the NHS and Royal Voluntary Service have announced today.

Over 600,000 volunteers have been approved to help those most at risk who are isolating at home from coronavirus, more than double the original target.

Date labels, storage advice and freezing for food safety.

WRAP, the Food Standards Agency and Defra have produced a summary of information which covers the date labelling and storage instruction requirements for surplus food, in order for it to be safely redistributed. The aim is to increase the amount of food made available by food businesses for redistribution and accepted by recipient organisations.

Monitor the impact of COVID-19 on your organisation and gain global insights

A free COVID-19 Social Impact Assessment tool has been launched by Socialsuite to help foundations and non-profit organisations to navigate the challenging times ahead. 

A new campaign to Save our Social Enterprises! has been launched.

The campaign is a collaboration between Community Leisure UK, Co-operatives UK, Locality, Plunkett Foundation, School for Social Entrepreneurs, Social Enterprise Mark CIC, Social Enterprise UK, Social Value UK, and UnLtd.

North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has curated a list of mental health apps.

The resource features apps that can help with anxiety, low mood and depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, sleep, relaxation and general wellbeing.

The list contains over 30 free apps, some with in-app purchases, and the majority are suitable for younger people as well as adults.

The apps include:

Young Manchester is a charity that strives to improve opportunities for all children and young people across Manchester.

Young Manchester are committed to supporting the amazing work done by organisations working with children and young people across Manchester.

They have been in touch with all their funded partners, and will work with them in the coming weeks and months to make the right decisions for them and the young people they work with.

ACEVO is the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations.

Together with their network they inspire and support civil society leaders by providing connections, advocacy and skills. 

Due to the closure of ACEVO host venues, their CEO forums and special interest group meetings will change to webinars whenever possible.

Factsheets and toolkits

We have created some factsheets and toolkits following common queries we have received from our members. Many of the queries are a result of the move to home working and needing to use tech in different ways or using tools that are completely new to us.

Download our resources:

Coinciding with BBC’s Big Night In, last night a consortium of charities launched the #NeverMoreNeeded campaign.

Join Salford Social Enterprise City for a series of working lunches event. 

Throughout the year Salford Social Enterprise City will be holding a number of events to support individuals starting or growing a social enterprise.

Book onto a session via Fatsome here. 

Working Lunch: Buy Social

Thursday 14th May 2020, 12noon – 2pm.

SilverCloud platform to support people experiencing problems related to mental health.

Salford launches a new collaborative today to offer mental health support to people affected by COVID-19.

Working together, NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Salford City Council have supported Mind in Salford, mental health charity START and Six Degrees Social Enterprise to form a new service called Beyond.

Trafford Park based, 100 Percent Group Limited, has donated food, household items and Easter eggs to support homelessness charity Emmaus Salford.

Dan Williams, Managing Director of 100 Percent Group Limited, delivered a carload of donations to the charity on Good Friday. The delivery included more than 100 items of food, 100 items of toiletries, 120 toilet rolls and Easter eggs for beneficiaries of Emmaus Salford.

Join Jonny Wineberg from Community Futures Trust CIC on Monday 27th April for Better Bid Writing training session. 

An on-line training event to help your organisation maximise its chances of eliciting support from grant making bodies.

Monday 27th April 2020 1.30pm to 3.30pm
On Zoom
For anyone involved in fundraising within your organisation

Many migrants, refugees, and people with insecure immigration status in the UK will be particularly at risk during Coronavirus, due to lack of or restricted access to council services, healthcare, and housing.

Follow the link to view the guide 

The NHS has launched a mental health hotline as part of a package of measures to support the NHS’ 1.4 million staff as they help people deal with the coronavirus.

NHS staff will be able to call or text a free number staffed by thousands of specially trained volunteers, to receive support and advice for the pressures they face every day during the global health emergency.

The volunteers will listen to NHS staff and give psychological support to those in need.

The University of Salford’s catering provider, Salfood, has donated a substantial amount of food and stock to homelessness charity Emmaus Salford.

The donation to Emmaus Salford was made following the closure of all Salfood’s outlets as a result of coronavirus measures. It was important that the food was not wasted and a former beneficiary of Emmaus Salford who now works at Salfood, suggested that the items be donated to the Pendleton based charity.

During these unprecedented and challenging times, it’s important to keep closely connected to the widest Disability Confident employer community so that during and after COVID-19, disabled people are recruited and retained in work and not left behind. The Ability Networks provide a brilliant platform to deliver practical and useful information to employers that, at this time, require advice, guidance and support.

Support and resources for social enterprises.

Big Society Capital

ACEVO's events go virtual 

Free to members, ACEVO's will be hosting their CEO forums and special interest groups as a series of webinars. 

To book onto a webinar please visit their website here https://www.acevo.org.uk/networking/webinars/

The Cranfield Trust is offering 1:1 mentoring, call telephone advice, charity consultants and more

Over the past few weeks the team at the Cranfield Trust have worked to ensure that they deliver their services remotley and continue to provide support and guidance to charity organsations. 

Ahead of the closing of the latest round of our Answer Cancer Fund we are hosting a series of virtual Meet the Funder sessions for organisations considering making an application.

This comes after the grant call and guidance was updated in light of Covid-19 and the resulting restrictions on delivering face-to-face services.

The Meet the Funder sessions will take place via ZOOM as follows:

Every Month is a registered charity, tackling period poverty across Greater Manchester. They create and distribute packs of menstrual products to food banks and over services for people living in poverty.

An Every Month Pack includes:

• Applicator tampons

• Non-applicator tampons

• Pads

• Chocolate

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Care has produced a useful resource of advice for parents during coronavirus

Whilst coronavirus is infectious to children it is rarely serious. If your child is unwell it is likely to be a non-coronavirus illness, rather than coronavirus itself.

Contact details of local foodbanks and donations needed

• Salford Food Bank. 
  • Address - Mocha Parade, Christ Central, Salford M7 1QE
  • Telephone Number 0161 637 4500
  • Donations needed - Toilet rolls, long life milk, long life fruit juices, dried/microwaveable food, tinned fruit
•  St James Parish Church Community Food Project
  • Address - St James, Great Cheetham Street East, Salford M7 4UH

A message from Judy and Dave from Big Top Catering and the Castle Community Centre 

 

Hi all

Just wanted to share an update of where we are at as of the 15^th April

Big Top Catering and Big Top Parties

Thank you to all of you who have postponed your event and have connected with us and set provisional new dates.

Disability Opportunities in Sport UK (DOSportUK) is a community interest company which offers sporting and physical activity opportunities to people with a disability.

DOSportUK's members have been sharing their home workout routines.

You can watch videos from their member Tom on their Facebook Page.

Wise About Food CIC has produced a free downloadable booklet to try and help people to cook with staples they may already have at home.

Resources compiled by CharityComms.

Our new reality of physical distancing means charities are having to think about how to continue communicating with their volunteers and beneficiaries in the weeks and months ahead. 

CharityComms want to make sure you have the tools to do just that. They have pulled together their own coronavirus comms resources, listed useful sector resources to bookmark and compiled some online videos.

Government guidance changed to permit people with specific health needs to exercise outside more than once a day and to travel to do so where necessary.

The guidance now states:

The Women and Equalities Committee wants to hear about the different and disproportionate impact that the Coronavirus – and measures to tackle it - is having on people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act.

Thousands more employees will able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) after the eligibility date was extended to 19 March 2020, the government announced today.

Mustard Tree refocuses work around food supply and distribution.

As the crisis situation around Coronavirus develops, we are refocusing the charity around our food clubs, food supply and distribution, including managing donations from the public and distributing to homes for people who are on benefits or no income.

With this in mind, they have put together a priority list of items which we are currently in great need of:

FOOD

Inspiring Communities Together has spaces available for children of key workers in their nursery. 

For more information please contact Nadine Murray, childcare manager on 07908 437 893 or email office@inspiringcommunitiestogether.co.uk 

Download the leaflet here 

Happy Micro-volunteering Day!

Today is Microvolunteering Day a chance to celebrate the way that many people doing small actions can make a big impact!

Micro-volunteering as a way to do good is more relevant than ever, as the bite-sized volunteering actions allow people to give their time flexibly from home. 

Greater Manchester Assessment and Inreach Centre (GMAIC) 

GMAIC are continuing to support inpatient providers by reviewing referrals for general adolescent and eating disorders admissions; conducting access assessments; and supporting units to discharge young people as safely and quickly as possible. Assessments will be undertaken by telephone or video call wherever possible, with face to face appointments only where absolutely necessary.  

Energyworks at Groundwork Greater Manchester are offering telephone support to those who are self-isolating, vulnerable and/or high risk of COVID-19.

They can offer support to people in all tenures across Greater Manchester with issues relating to their energy and keeping a warm home.

Leeds Migration Partnership has written a useful piecee on considering the costs of video calls.

As we all get used to new ways of working, video calls are the obvious solution. They’re fun accessible and immediate. They can really help people feel connected.

However, we should also be aware that for volunteers and clients and those who don’t have broadband, this isn’t “free” – even if we are not paying to use the apps themselves.

Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) wants to hear from voluntary organisations about how they can support people during the outbreak.

Voluntary organisations are invited to submit offers to HMPPS for how they can adapt their service or deliver more support to people in prisons, youth custody or in the community in the context of Covid-19. 

Boost and protect your mental health during Coronavirus with Combat Stress charity.

Infectious disease outbreaks, like COVID-19 (Coronavirus), can be scary and can impact on our mental health. But there are many things we can do to support and manage our wellbeing during this extraordinary situation.

As experts in mental health, Combat Stress wanted to share some help and advice to help everyone manage their mental health during this uncertain time. 

Sports England's new campaign launches today giving people ideas about how to be physically active while still following the government advice on staying at home and social distancing.

They are inviting everyone to ‘Join the Movement’ and get or keep active with the help of their new campaign.

With restrictions in place on why and how often you can leave the house, many normal exercise sources aren’t currently available.

• Do not travel unless it is absolutely essential – stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.
• You should only be travelling for work, supplies, to care for others or for medical reasons.
• If you have to travel, drive, cycle or walk, use public transport if you have no other option.
• If you have to drive slow down and take care on the roads – reduce pressure on the NHS.
• Metrolink tram frequency is reducing to a 20-minute service