Four films have been produced in partnership with NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, Salford City Council and Alchemy Arts to tackle vaccine hesitancy amongst faith communities by dispelling myths and improving understanding.

We know voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations are at the heart of our communities and are a trusted voice that people listen to.

You can help to protect our communities by sharing key messages about COVID-19 with your members, the people you work with and your beneficiaries.

Posters, leaflets and social media assets depicting key messages for helping to stop the spread of coronavirus in Salford can be downloaded and printed below:

COVID-19 is having a major impact on voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE).

Demand has gone up and income down, leaving some organisations “fighting for survival”, as they try to navigate the challenges that the pandemic has thrown at them.

Salford coronavirus resources and messages

Posters and leaflets depicting the key messages for helping to stop the spread of coronavirus in Salford have been produced. The resources are available in 15 languages - you can download the posters and leaflets below:

NAVCA have summarised a range of updates from GOV.UK that relates to volunteering during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Emergencies Partnership was created in 2018, following the experience of the Grenfell Tower fire, 2017 terror attacks, and rural flooding across the country.

The partnership's purpose is to build greater national resilience and a better experience for people impacted by emergencies, by making best use of resources across the voluntary and community sector.

Signhealth videos

Signhealth, the Deaf health charity, are producing daily videos with updates on key guidance. 

You can find out more on their website.

Subscribe to their YouTube channel for their daily two-minute briefings.

The BBC Asian Network is helping the South Asian community in the UK to understand key messages regarding Covid, including vaccines and lockdown. The videos are available in five languages and cover the topics below:

Are you an unpaid carer?

• Do you support a family member, or friend?
• Do you help them with day to day activities?
• Help get their shopping?
• Attend appointments with them?
• Sort out their medication?
• Provide a listening ear and offer emotional support?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be an unpaid carer and be entitled to a COVID-19 Vaccine.

Unlimited Potential wants to listen to people living in Salford, aged 18 or over, who have been on the ‘shielding’ list since March 2020.

We want to hear what is most important to your life, and how things can be better for you and others in the future.

All conversations will take place safely online or by phone.

You can choose to remain anonymous.

Today’s report from the National Audit Office (NAO) finds that as at 19 February 2021, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (the Department) had disbursed £454 million of £494 million it made available to support charities during the COVID-19 pandemic.¹ It did so through seven schemes and a network of nearly 200 partners, and intends to award and disburse funding until 31 March 2021.

The Salford NHS Vaccination Service began delivering vaccines within the community on 12 December 2020 using both the Pfizer and Astra Zeneca vaccines (both of which provide good protection against all variants currently identified). The vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting people against COVID-19 before they come into actual contact with the virus.

Europia are working in partnership with Barrow Cadbury to do some research into what EU nationals (especially Central and Eastern European groups like EU Roma) think about COVID-19.

Europia have released a new survey to find out what people from these communities in the UK think about COVID-19 including questions about the vaccine and test and trace.

They survey closes on Friday 12 March 2021.

New report finds small charities showed up and stuck around to support people throughout the Covid 19 pandemic when others couldn’t.

In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, there has been some targetted fraudulent activity.

Unfortunately, we’ve been advised by colleagues in GM Health and Social Care Partnership that older residents are being targeted by Covid scams.

Over 1.7 million users have been asked to isolate as a result of a close contact since launch, helping to break chains of transmission.

Over 1.7 million app users across England and Wales have been advised to isolate by the NHS COVID-19 app following a close contact with someone who goes on to test positive, new data published today shows.

The NHS COVID-19 app has been breaking chains of transmission to protect users and their communities since its launch in September.

Vaccinations are on all our minds at the moment, potentially causing a degree of agitation for many.

A new guide shows how music can be used to help alleviate COVID-19 jab anxiety for people living with dementia, and its information has universal relevance.

Entitled ‘A dose of music with your COVID-19 vaccination’, the guide explains how music can be used to manage the physiological symptoms and psychological response to vaccinations among people with dementia.

Join co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month Dr Binita Kane, lead the conversation and answer your questions about the Covid19 vaccine.

Join Arts Let Loose in their postcard arts project 

Plain postcard or even a stuck down blank envelope, decorate the front and post it to Arts Let Loose, Postcard Project. 69-73 The Parade. Swinton Manchester M27 4BD

Anything goes: draw, paint, doodle, collage, sew, words/text, favourite song lyrics....ANYTHING!!

Art Let Loose will be bringing them all together to create a giant artwork in our community.

Racism and the Pandemic is an Arts and Humanities Research Council project and film that aims to shed light on institutional and workplace racism in Health and Social Care during and prior to the pandemic in the UK.

The survey is open to all health and social care workers.

It takes less than 5 mins to complete.

Take part here.

From this week Leonard Cheshire are going live with an exciting calendar of free online live activities to beat those winter blues until the end of February.

They have teamed up with the brilliant Allsorts in Gloucestershire to deliver these sessions. 3 Instructors will be in each session to support everyone to be able to access these exercises.

As part of the ‘Safely Managing COVID-19’ communications and engagement plan, Greater Manchester (GM) partners are currently working with the Behavioural Science and Insights Unit (BSIU) at Public Health England to conduct a review of community and stakeholder engagement activities that have been implemented as part of the COVID-19 response across the city region.

Claremont & Weaste Community Committee Budget Sub Group still have funding available for local groups which provide a benefit to part or all of the community.

They have four priorities which they look favourably in funding applications:

• Youth
• Crime and disorder
• Cleansing and environmental maintenance
• Older people

Eccles and Broughton Libraries are open for essential computer use during this lockdown.

Customers can book in advance by ringing Eccles Library on 0161 607 8237 and Broughton Library on 0161 793 2500.

The libraries are open between 10.00am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday and in addition to this Eccles Library is also open 10.00 am – 1.00pm on a Saturday.

Computer sessions run at

Plan Your Pathway

The Ethical Education Enterprise are happy to be given the opportunity to deliver a fully funded course to help those who may have been affected by the recent pandemic.  

This course is available to anyone who is 18yrs and over and resident in Greater Manchester and is unemployed or at risk of redundancy. 

New scheme to help adults across England facing multiple disadvantages like homelessness and mental health issues.

A £46 million scheme to provide more effective and coordinated support for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities was launched on 10 December 2020.

The Local Connections Fund is a new £4 million fund to help charities and community groups in England that are working to reduce loneliness by helping them build connections across their communities.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and The National Lottery Community Fund are investing £2 million each.

Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

Our commitment as voluntary sector funders in Salford.

Managing youth sector activities and spaces during COVID-19

Light and Hope in a Time of Darkness

Salford Interfaith  - Celebrating Faith in Salford 

• what is the place of faith communities in Salford?
• how are our faith communities bringing light and hope at this time?
• what practical actions can we take together locally?

Monday 14th December 2020 6pm to 7pm on Zoom 

All welcome - Free Event 

Book at SalfordFaith.eventbrite.co.uk   

Age UK Salford Dementia Support Service would like to welcome Carers supporting a loved one with dementia, to our online Carers Christmas Cheer zoom session. ​
​
Have your mince pies and Sherry at the ready.​
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Put your Christmas jumper on or put some tinsel in your hair and join us for some Festive Fun!​
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​
Date:  Wednesday 9 December  3:30pm – 4:30pm​
Platform:  Zoom​

The Greater Manchester Resilience Hub is extending its Covid-19 psychological and emotional wellbeing support to thousands more health and care staff and their families who work and/ or live in Greater Manchester.

The service, which is supported and funded by Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, was set up in April 2020 in response to covid-19 and is part of a range of wellbeing and mental health services available to health and care staff across the region.

Claire Benson, Salford CVS' Development Worker for Girls and Young Women has compiled a list of websites that offer ideas and support for the community.

This list was put together during the first lockdown, but as national and local restrictions mean that we are spending much of our time at home we thought they would be useful to share once again.

The report, Deaths of people identified as having learning disabilities with COVID-19 in England in the Spring of 2020 examined data from The English Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) and NHS England’s COVID-19 Patient Notification System (

#MobiliseNotMothball campaign launches with urgent message to government from more than 100 leaders private and non-profit organisations.

Keeping Marginalised Older People Safe and Well this Winter

You are invited to a short online briefing session and workshop for anyone working with minority or marginalised communities, on how to help older people in your community make the right decisions to stay connected and keep moving this winter, while also following Covid-19 guidance correctly.

A coalition of civil society leaders has written to Rishi Sunak to urge him to develop a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) fit for purpose for social change organisations.

Salford collaborative offers 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 service called Beyond.

Beyond offers support to people who are struggling with their mental health due to COVID-19, but are not known to Salford’s mental health services.

This is the first quarterly report on progress to address the findings of Public Health England’s (PHE) review into disparities in the risks and outcomes of COVID-19.

The PHE review set out some of what was known at the time about COVID-19 and ethnicity.  It told us what the disparities in risks and outcomes were, but not why they had arisen or what could be done about them.

Salford Foodbank is continuing to operate out of as many Distribution Centres as they can.

Salford Foodbank e will be opening at Mustard Tree, Eccles on Thursday from 10 am-12 noon and continuing to operate at:

St Andrews Eccles  on Monday 12.30 - 2.30

GoChurch, Media City - on Tuesday 10.30 - 12.30

St Philips Church, Salford on Tuesday 1pm - 3pm

Big Local, Little Hulton on Thursday 12.30 - 2.30

Mustard Tree, Eccles on Thursday 10am - 12noon

Manchester BME Network

Manchester BME Network's email and phone will still be monitored regularly.

If you need any further information or support, please do not hesitate to contact them on:

The new measures, which came into effect on Thursday 5 November, will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December. 

The National Youth Agency (NYA) as the Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body for youth work in England has, in consultation with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive, developed youth sector-specific advice and guidance. The guidance will support local providers, leaders, volunteers and young people to remain safe when engaging in youth sector activities. It is intended to guide the youth sector in opening up services for young people at the right pace and time.

Flu kills 11,000 people each year. 

The flu vaccine is offered free to certain people because they need it. You can help to save the NHS from fighting flu this winter by sharing the message about getting the free flu jab. 

Lesley from our wonderful member Dancing with Dementia is featured in this year's campaign. 

New local COVID alert levels were announced by government on Monday 12 October.

From 0.01am on Friday, October 23, Greater Manchester (including Salford) will be in the Very High Local Covid Alert Level.

Event invitation – Covid-19 Recovery: VCSE Sector Leadership Voices wit

Crowdfunder and M&S Energy have teamed up to award £40,000 to communities going green.

The M&S Energy Community Fund Competition 2020 is on the look out for community projects committed to being environmentally conscious and installing renewable technology or energy efficiency measures in their endeavour to do so. 

Greater Manchester Disabled People's Panel has shared a statement on shielding and the Covid strategy.

The position statement outlines how the panel believes the implementation of the shielding strategy without support mechanisms being in place lead to many disabled people being left without access to basic resources.

The Lowry is to re-open its galleries at weekends from 1 November

The Lowry will re-open the doors of its galleries next month for the first time since March.
Opening to the public at weekends from Sunday 1 November, visitors will be able to enjoy the permanent LS Lowry collection and a new exhibition documenting the lockdown experiences of people from Salford entitled ‘Days Like These’.
Both exhibitions are free of charge and will be open 11am – 4pm.

People across England and Wales are being urged to download the NHS COVID-19 app to help control the spread of coronavirus and protect themselves and their loved ones as case numbers rise.

The app launched on 24 September, and after positive trials and rigorous testing is an important new tool to work alongside traditional contact tracing to help reduce the spread of the virus.

Lockdown worries for 55% of charities as 2020 takes its toll.

As new restrictions are announced by government in preparation for a second wave of Covid-19, over half of charities warn demand for their services may outstrip their ability to deliver – suggesting many people will be left without access to vital services they came to rely on during the previous lockdown.

People will be required by law to self-isolate from 28 September, supported by payment of £500 for those on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income as a result.

A further consultation document focusing on proposed changes to the Human Medicine Regulations (2012) designed to support the rollout of COVID19 vaccines, has been published by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The UK government, with the Minister of Health in Northern Ireland, is seeking views on proposed changes to the Human Medicine Regulations 2012.

Mini Health Checks are available to Salford front line key workers and volunteers.

The checks are carried out at Pendleton and Eccles Gateways - both are easily accessible by public transport and have free parking on-site or nearby.

Salford City Council is sending an urgent, critical message to the local community and businesses to avoid further restrictions as coronavirus cases are escalating in the city.

Further government restrictions could include food and drink businesses opening only for takeaways, limited venue opening times, and a blanket restriction on meeting outdoors.

Support the NHS and others learn from your community-led stories, experiences and observations

New NHS Alliance is delivering a project supported by The Health Foundation that seeks to answer:

 'How can the NHS work with mobilised communities to increase prevention and health creation? Learnings from COVID-19.'

Talk Listen Change are looking for young people to upload their pictures of ‘dependable’ / safe / healthy / positive relationships to Instagram, using the hashtag #relationshipsaroundme and tagging us @TLC_Charity to be in with a chance of winning either a voucher or one to one studio time with a professional photographer, with prints to take home from the session. 

The Beacon Community Cafe crowdfunding project in Salford.

Community Pride CIC have teamed up with a local cafe to create The Beacon Community Cafe in May 2020, to provide a free meals on wheels service. It has now launched a crowdfunding page to raise money to keep the service going.

Salford is to lead the way in developing the national approach to community testing for coronavirus over coming weeks.

The new community testing model will identify the best way to deliver a quick and simple saliva test, without any of the discomfort of the existing nose and throat swab test.

The development of the use of this new, rapid coronavirus test will begin in Salford with a phased roll out.

Deaths from Covid-19 (coronavirus): how are they counted and what do they show?

This explainer from The King's Fund was originally published on 13 May and it was updated on 19 August 2020 to reflect recent data and changes in the method used for reporting daily Covid-19 deaths on GOV.UK.

Following discussions with local leaders, the Health and Social Care Secretary, NHS Test and Trace, the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), and the Chief Medical Officer for England have agreed this week’s changes to local restrictions in some parts of England.

From Wednesday 2 September restrictions on 2 households mixing introduced last month will be lifted in:

In June, the Government announced that the Home Office had secured additional, one-off emergency support funding for small and micro charities that are working in marginalised communities with vulnerable young people at risk of being involved in serious violence.

The Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit had been provided funding to allocate grants to Greater Manchester’s small and micro charities (defined as those having an income less than £100,000 per annum).

The government has been accused of breaking a promise over emergency coronavirus funding for small charities, after it emerged that no “standalone review” has been conducted into the scheme.

Government and local leaders in Oldham, Pendle and Blackburn have agreed additional measures to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

• Government and local leaders in Oldham, Pendle and Blackburn have agreed additional measures to curb the spread of the virus, while removing Wigan, Darwen and Rossendale from intervention
• Businesses including restaurants and pubs, workplaces and childcare including nurseries to remain open

Communities and localities have often responded quickly, effectively and innovatively to the challenges of COVID-19.

Desperate times offer opportunities for the light to come streaming in.

Currently, we are seeing that light in the outpouring of support and love for health and care staff across the world during this pandemic. In the UK, a large proportion of those staff come from ethnic minorities and some are dying at a much higher rate than white staff. The same is true in the general population.

The Playground for the New Economy festival is back and going online for 2020.

Join Stir to Action for three days of inspiring conversations, interactive workshops, idea surgeries, virtual experiences, live podcasts, and more.

When: 1st - 3rd September

Cost: From £10  

10GM launch webinar: Equipping charity trustees to lead their organisations with assurance as we emerge from Covid-19

The webinar is hosted by 10GM and the lead speaker will be Robert Nieri, a Charity Lawyer from Shoosmiths in Manchester. It has been created for charity trustees and senior staff of VCSE organisations across 10GM.

The session will focus on the following areas:

Leading women’s groups have today (14 August) published a short report on the numerous new problems women are facing in the criminal and family justice systems due to COVID, and have called on the Government to show curiosity and leadership to alleviate these, alongside resourcing and measures to keep children safe.

Charity reserves have repeatedly been a topic of discussion and trustees have long had to balance saving enough for a “rainy day” whilst delivering services and still being eligible / attractive to funders.

BreathChamps CIC to host an online session to help get lungs in shape after lockdown

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee says Covid-19 crisis presents the biggest threat to UK's cultural infrastructure, institutions and workforce in a generation.

Government has consistently failed to recognise scale of challenge facing culture, sport and tourism

The Government has been ‘too slow’ to respond to the needs of the DCMS sectors during the Covid-19 outbreak with many organisations facing an “existential threat” to their survival, say MPs.

Despite everything that is happening at the moment with Coronavirus, Motiv8 remains open for referrals and continues to work with Greater Manchester residents who need support to get back on track.

Motiv8 can help people who:

Government have published information on coronavirus (COVID-19) for commissioners and providers of hostel services for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.

The guidance covers:

• hostels with individual self-contained rooms with en-suite facilities that have shared kitchens
• hostels without individual self-contained rooms and that have communal facilities

This guidance does not cover night shelters.

IVAR are running peer support sessions that create space for leaders of smaller VCSE organisations to relieve some of the stress and uncertainty they are facing, through advice and reassurance from their peers.

National Lottery has launched a Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage to safeguard cultural and heritage organsations from the impact of Covid-19

The Culture Recovery Fund will support organisations in the cultural and heritage sector who were financially stable before the pandemic and are now at risk of failing.

Date & Time of Training: 

10 September, 2020 - 13:00 to 14:00

Venue: 

Online via Zoom

This session is designed for charity trustees and senior staff of Greater Manchester VCSE organisations. 

Overview:

The C19 BAME LEARN project aims to understand the mechanisms and factors that can improve inclusion, protection and well-being of health and social care workers (HSCW ) from black and minority ethnicity (BAME) backgrounds involved in the provision of health and social care across the spectrum of acute, community and private settings. The increased risk of illness and death from COVID-19 (C19) among HSCW from BAME backgrounds has highlighted the severity of the inequities that they face.

Optional badges that can be used to show the carrier may have difficulties or concerns in maintaining social distancing.

Available from Gov.UK these optional badges can be used to show that the carries may have difficulties or concerns in maintaining social distancing. They can be used to signal to others around them that they need to pay attention and be given space.

Advice on benefits, debt, employment and housing available for people with Multiple Sclerosis

Citizens Advice Manchester and the Improving Quality of Life (IQL) team have come together to produce a variety of online sessions. The sessions include opportunities to chat with people who have MS, as well as being able to receive advice from professionals to do with:

What can we learn from the explosion of mutual aid groups during COVID-19?

Monday 10 August 2020, 1pm - 4pm

The purpose of this event is to discuss mutual aid groups in Greater Manchester: those informal groups of local people that have come together to support each other during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Nuffield Foundation has conducted a number of research projects on the effects of COVID-19 read their findings here 

GM Race Panel Briefing Session

The Caribbean & African Health Network would like to invite you to their GM Race Panel Briefing Session, which will be held tonight @17:00hrs- 18:00hrs. Following conversations about the Race Panel during Andy Burnham’s appearance on the Collective Community Response Meeting, there is a planned engagement session to discuss further.

Visit from the Stork CIC continue their Stork Support project in Little Hulton and Walkden.

The project will now run until October 2020 thanks to funding received from Coalfields Regeneration Trust and ForHousing.

Visit from the Stork will be based in the Little Hulton district centre as well as offering doorstep deliveries. Doorstep deliveries will be Covid-19 Secure and will adhere to government guidelines.

Although the whole of the UK has been affected by Covid-19 and its social and economic consequences, the impact has been different for different people.

To support a wellbeing-centred recovery, What Works Wellbeing is looking at how the pandemic and responses to it have impacted all drivers of our wellbeing – not just examining the health and fatality risk.

At 10am on 3 August 2020 Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales (LBFEW) will be launching £7.4 million COVID funding aimed at supporting charities to recover beyond the immediate crisis.

Salford Credit Union have created their own branded face masks to help Salfordians.

From 24 July, the government has made it mandatory to wear face masks/coverings in shops and supermarkets. This is also still applicable for people using public transport. A fine of up to £100 will be issued to those not wearing a mask or face covering.

Forever Manchester have released Community Support Fund (Phase Two) and Community Centre Support Funds.

Both funds will go live on 24th July 2020 in response to COVID-19.

Community Support Fund (Phase Two)

This funding is available to community and voluntary organisations who have suffered hardship due to Covid-19.

Forever Manchester are offering grants of up to £5,000. Any awards which are funded must be spent by 31 March 2021.

Business events, conferences and events centres will be given the go ahead to reopen on 1 October adhering to social distancing, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced on 17 July. 

Provided levels of infection remain at current rates, this will see the return of the sector worth approximately £32.6 billion to the UK each year. 

The Directory of Social Change (DSC) is delivering Building a Successful Organisation training throughout July and August.

A collection of half-day courses, covering governance, marketing, strategy, fundraising, income diversification and leadership. The series of workshops act as a comprehensive guide to building, improving, or scaling a charitable, or other not for profit, organisations.

Posters advising on Test, Track and Trace and working with Coronavirus are now available in multiple languages

The posters are available to download below:

Polish

Handwashing

Limit Contact

Richard Sagar, Policy Manager at Charity Finance Group (CFG) sets out a briefing on the Economic Update by the Chancellor aided by commentary from CFG's corporate partner experts.

Together, they examine how the announcements might affect charities and what we might expect from the Autumn Spending Review.

The update includes an overview of announcements on jobs, the job retention scheme and apprenticeships.

Salford Youth Council are running a virtual event to give accurate information to young people about coming out of lockdown.

The virtual event, will feature a series of videos of young people asking and having their questions answered by Public Health teams.

This framework sets out how national and local partners will work with the public at a local level to prevent, contain and manage outbreaks. Successful management of local outbreaks is a core element of NHS Test and Trace’s ambition to break the chains of COVID-19 transmission to enable people to return to and maintain a more normal way of life.

The public response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of much-needed hope.

Thousands of spontaneous, voluntary Mutual Aid groups have emerged to support the most vulnerable people in our society. They are supplying food and medicine, connecting with those who are lonely, and organising community resources. In many cases these groups have been able to help people far more rapidly and flexibly than traditional public services.

The House of Lords COVID-19 Committee has been established to look at the long-term implications of the pandemic for our economy and our society.

They are starting by gathering people’s thoughts about how we can ‘press the reset button’, especially in light of the systemic inequalities in society that the pandemic has highlighted and deepened.

People with learning disabilities or autism who could be better supported in their community will have their discharges from hospital accelerated.

Named the Community Discharge Fund, the funding will help to move people with learning disabilities and autistic people into more appropriate care: either into less restrictive settings or into the community, where appropriate.

Community centres, village halls, and other multi-use community facilities support a wide range of local activity.

However, their communal nature also makes them places that are vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

This guidance is for those managing multi-use community facilities to prepare for re-opening when restrictions have lifted. It signposts to relevant guidance on a range of different activities that can take place in these spaces.

While COVID has been troubling and difficult for a lot of orgaisations, a shining light has been that so many have had their hand forced when it comes to adopting digital change, and many charities are not only surviving but thriving.

Watch this webinar from Charity Digital welcomes digital adoption specialist Trillium and UK Charity Thirtyone:eight to discuss how taking the digital plunge has enabled them to be agile, responsive and supportive at the most challenging of times.

Read the latest guidance from Gov.uk for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities 

• Guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities

Guidance about the rules and support around coronavirus

Below are a number of links for the latest information about Coronavirus, the information is available in a number of formats

Advice about shielding- staying safe if you are at risk

The Government has sent letters to people who are at a high risk of getting very ill with coronavirus.

Open Kitchen MCR are working with food banks, community centres and support organisations to offer freshly made, healthy 'ready meals' to people on low incomes

An updated list of key national and local funders has been created, outlining what key funders are currently offering

This list has been created to give an overall picture of what is currently available from key national and local funders. The list shows funds which are running as normal, those which have created Covid-19 funds, those that have been paused and those funds which have stopped accepting applications, as of the 6 July 2020.

The 2020 Charity Digital Skills Report paints a picture of a post-crisis charity sector gaining confidence with digital, but still lacking the skills and funding they need.

Launched by Skills Platform in partnership with Zoe Amar Digital, the Charity Digital Skills Report is an annual barometer of the charity sector’s use of digital technology, looking at different sizes of charity at different stages of digital maturity.

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.

• Many small projects working with diverse communities are facing risk of closure due to financial pressures following the pandemic
• New £3.4M fund from Comic Relief & National Emergencies Trust will support 10 Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) led organisations who will fund hundreds of small projects across the UK
• Comic Relief will also earmark £1.8m from the new Change Makers programme for BAME projects

GM THRIVE have created an online session for service or team managers working with Children and Young People's mental health in Salford

Feelgood Communities CIC launch laughter webinars hosted by the education team of the Prison Officers Association (POA learning) on 14-16 July

Feelgood Communities CIC are an organisation which has a focus on the wellbeing of a community and laughter throughout. Their expertise surrounds community work, creative performance and writing and complementary therapies.

The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) states that ‘Employers must protect the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees, as well as others on their premises, including temps, casual workers, the self-employed, clients, visitors and the general public.

The Government has announced that any employer with more than 50 members of staff is required to not only complete a Risk Assessment but also to publish it.

The NHS is rolling out additional support for pregnant Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) women, as new research shows heightened risks facing women from minority groups.

Analysis out today shows Black pregnant women are eight times more likely to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19, while Asian women are four times as likely.

It’s been 3 months since coronavirus was declared a global pandemic on 11 March.

The Citizens Advice website was viewed 15.8 million times in that 3 month period. The most viewed advice pages were on coronavirus and employment, furlough, bills and benefits. Over this time, the number 1 most searched for word on the Citizens Advice website was:

Time for flexibility is the latest briefing from IVAR on the challenges faced by VCSE leaders during the Covid-19 crisis.

This seventh briefing shares the experiences of 34 leaders participating in the sessions between 4th June and 15th June, and our reflections on the questions and opportunities for funders that they raise.

Three issues remain at the forefront of VCSE leaders’ minds: 

CTA is the national membership body for the community transport sector. 

Over the coming weeks, they will be helping their members meet the challenges of emerging from lock-down.

They will be releasing detailed guidance, tool-kits and resources, as well as an advice service, to help community transport to operate in what will be a new and uncertain environment.

The BBC's Tiny Happy People will officially launch on Tuesday 14 July 2020

Tiny Happy People is a professional service providing hints, tips and advice about how to develop your child's communication and language skills. Using videos, Tiny Happy People's ideas and activities are helpful from your pregnancy up to your child being five years old. They are endorsed by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Induction event on working with the Office of the Public Guardian on the lasting power of attorney campaign.

Studies show there is fluctuating knowledge of lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) especially among BAME communities in low socio-economic areas. These communities are also amongst the hardest hit by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Coalfields Community Investment Programme (CCIP) has been replaced temporarily by the Coalfields Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience Fund

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is an independent charity which was established in response to the government's Coalfields Task Force recommendations. The charity help to support communities and focus on creating opportunities for the people within them.

Protecting early years provision in England.

CommUNITY Little Hulton's dedicated staff have used their time to support local organisations with food and non - food essentials being throughout the community. 

They have also provided grants for three local care homes and funding has been given to local organisations to help those in need with food packages. CommUNITY Little Hulton will continue to provide funding and support where needed. 

The University of Manchester has teamed up with Manchester Museum to hold their free Community Festival online.

Matthew Dodd, Head of Policy and Public Affairs is asking for organisations to join the call to put children at the heart of recovery. 

Thinking about… Merger, during Covid-19 from the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR). 

• 200,000 more children are among those expected to be below pre-virus poverty line, as job losses hit family incomes 
• Government must act now to prevent this avoidable increase in family hardship, says think tank 

Days Like These is a new online exhibition that will share the stories and explore how LS Lowry’s hometown of Salford endured lockdown.

Via an open call-out, The Lowry is looking for contributions of stories, artwork, films, performance, poems and photography that will give the 245,000 residents of Salford the opportunity to share their experiences of COVID-19.

Locality's new report, “We Were Built for This”, highlights the vital role that community organisations have played in meeting community need and supporting people during the coronavirus crisis.

The report explores how community organisations have reacted and adapted to the challenges of the crisis.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have released face-covering guidance for people with disabilities.

The document from TfGM, which is being circulated across Greater Manchester, is also applicable to those who have health conditions including breathing difficulties, mental health conditions, non-visible disabilities such as autism, and visual impairment.

Please read the document below. Contact information for TfGM can be found at the bottom of the page.

To commemorate Windrush Day the Windrush Foundation is holding a number of events on the 22nd June, with presentations, poetry, music and a review of key events that has affected the Caribbean community over the years and a look to the future. 

A large number of COVID19 funders have come into existence since the pandemic.

To manage the large volume of funding streams Charity Excellence Framework has created a free COVID-19 funding database.

The database has 550 records, with links to 36 funder lists, to enable you to find every known funder and tailor your search to those that best meet your needs. You are able to click through to 1000s of funder websites, in the UK, globally and for individuals. 

Flourish Together CIC has created a 'one stop' toolkit of links to funding, support and resources for social enterprises, community businesses and grassroots organisations.

Greater Manchester Autism Consortium (GMAC) have shared four updates.

GMAC is made up of the ten Social Services Departments of Greater Manchester - Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.

NCSC Launches Suspicious Email Reporting Service to help combat cyber crime

The National Cyber Security Centre has launched an online service to tackle phishing and other suspicious emails

BetterOff coffee and chat sessions in Salford Gateway Centres have now been replaced with Cloud Coffee and Chat

Due to Covid-19, BetterOff coffee and chat sessions, which are normally run from Eccles, Pendleton, Swinton, Walkden Gateway Centres and Broughton Hub, have now been moved remotely.

Cloud Coffee and Chat is an online video advice service for Salford residents supported by a member of Salford's locality team. 

Connect 5 - Live Online Training Opportunities across Greater Manchester.

More than half of the respondents to a survey looking at the impact of COVID19 on the Caribbean and African Community have said they are worried about the mental well-being of their children as a result of the outbreak.

The Caribbean and African Health Network Greater Manchester (CAHN) undertook the first primary research study of Black voices in Greater Manchester between April 18 and May 13 with 334 people responding.

Empowered Conversations have released their online offers.

Empowered Conversations focuses on the communication, thinking and attitude of relationships with people with dementia. They provide customised online support and communication via training specifically for families, friends and professionals.

The online offer provided by Empowered Conversations is a timetable packed with online sessions for carers and people living with dementia.

Over the last 12 months, GreaterSport has been engaging with a number of partners across GM who all have a responsibility to volunteering, to develop knowledge and insights of the sport and physical activity landscape of Greater Manchester. Their aim is to use these insights to support volunteering in GM to be more inclusive and representative of GM’s demographics.

Refugee Week, 15th - 21st June, is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees. 

This year, organisations across the UK are holding an exciting range of online discussions for Refugee Week 2020, 15-21 June. Here are some selected highlights – visit the Refugee Week events page for the full programme.

15th - 20th June is Small Charity Week.

Small Charity Week celebrates and raises awareness of the essential work of the UK's small charity sector who make an invaluable contribution to the lives of millions of individuals, communities and causes across the UK and the rest of the world.

How can this crisis create opportunities to improve later lives and a better future for us all?

This event has already take place.

The National Lottery Community Fund has launched the Coronavirus Community Support Fund (CCSF).

It is part of the Government’s £750m support package for charities and local enterprises. The fund is aimed primarily at small to medium organisations in England to support you to continue to deliver services to people and communities affected by Covid-19.

You can apply to the CCSF for:

The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for society and policymakers, but the impact of the crisis has been particularly acute for disabled people and their families.

Just because a story appears online, doesn’t mean it is true. The internet is great, but it can also be used to spread misleading news and content.

When shared, false information can take on a life of its own and have some serious consequences. It can lead to health scares, false accusations and potentially damaging hoax stories. Recently there has been a lot of this kind of false information about coronavirus. 

The coronavirus crisis has created a huge challenge for the sector.

Charity Digital Code has created a checklist to help charity boards and leaders with the decisions they need to make about digital during the crisis.

During the Coronavirus crisis, many charities will be grappling with the loss of income, closure of face to face services and staff absence, whilst simultaneously accelerating remote working, digital service delivery, and digital fundraising. 

Salford City Council has opened an online Book of Condolences.

The COVID-19 outbreak has been a tragic and unprecedented time of loss for families and communities across the UK, and Salford is no exception.

Salford has, like many cities across the country, experienced a high number of deaths from COVID-19. With every loss, there is a story behind that loss, a person, a family, friends and fond memories.

The Charity Commission has issued guidance for trustees on what matters may need to be reported as a serious incident during the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year internationally acclaimed pianist Margaret Fingerhut raised an incredible £82,000 for City of Sanctuary, visiting 32 cities across the UK with a unique piano recital ‘Far From the Home I Love’

On Friday 5th June 2020, 8pm, Margaret will be performing her fundraising finale live-streamed over Facebook to reach her target of £88,000 (£1k for each piano key on a standard piano) to support the work of City of Sanctuary.

In May 2020, LGBT Foundation published findings from the largest and most substantive research into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on LGBT communities in the United Kingdom to date.

NCVO and CFG co-hosted a webinar on Financial Management and Accession Government Funding. 

About the webinar

In partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), grants of up to £25,000 are available from The Prince's Trust for organisations working with specific cohorts of young people up to the age of 25, across the Greater Manchester city-region, who are facing barriers to engagement with education, employment or training. 

• NHS Test and Trace service to form a central part of the government’s coronavirus recovery strategy.
• Anyone with symptoms will be tested and their close contacts will be traced.
• New guidance means those who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive must isolate for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms, to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus 

Public Health England has developed a guide to support older people and those who are shielded to be active and healthy at home.

This is part of the Sport England Join the Movement campaign designed to provide inspiration and trusted information to the public about how to get active in and around the home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) would like to offer you the chance to sign up to an online peer support session.

Cranfield Trust Training - A Practical Guide to Re-Opening after Covid-19 Closedown.

Looking to the near future this webinar will provide information in the form of an aide-memoir of all we need to think about when returning to our places of work.

Thursday 4th June 2020 from 11am - 12pm

After the webinar you will be equipped with:

Café Manager of The Brain and Spinal Injury Centre in Salford features in the National Lottery TV advert

A Salford chef who cooked almost 300 pies for NHS staff battling Covid-19 has been featured in a TV advert with the National Lottery.

The full article by the Manchester Evening News can be read here

The Ethical Property Foundation is working hard throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic to support charities, across the UK, manage their property during this extraordinary period. Although, many of us are no longer working in our buildings it is vital, for the health of the sector, that we do not forget about the bricks and mortar. In order to support charities, the Foundation is offering for free:

The Big Lunch, 6th - 7th June, is the UK’s thanksgiving weekend for neighbours and communities.

It is a time where people come together to celebrate community connections and get to know one another a little better. Now more than ever, we need to make time for each other, so let’s get the nation talking over a cuppa and a bite to eat and have some fun with The Big Virtual Lunch.

500 square miles of singing! 

This Thursday May 28th at 7.30pm the whole of Greater Manchester is invited to take part in ‘Together In One Voice‘ by singing songs led by choirs from across the region.

The Charity Tax Fund has released the information below on the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

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

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'.

The National Lottery Community Fund are delighted to confirm that the Government’s new Coronavirus Community Support Fund will open for applications at 10am on Friday 22^nd May.

This new funding stream makes available £200m in Government funding that will be aimed primarily at small to medium organisations in England.

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.