Understanding local patterns of volunteer activity during COVID-19

Posted on by Amy Hallett

Together with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), The Young Foundation is conducting new research to understand the various ways in which volunteers have been (and continue to be) active within local authority areas across England during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research will create a greater understanding of the ways in which volunteers have been active over the duration of the pandemic. By sharing your experiences, registering your interest for workshops and sharing this with your networks, you too can contribute to building the knowledge around this important and impactful research.

Click here to find out more.

Sustaining Support for Armed Forces communities

Posted on by Amy Hallett

Deadline 4th June 2021

This programme will award grants of up to one year grants of £100,000 for existing charitable projects to help charities to sustain activities and services that people from Armed Forces communities use and value.

To be eligible to apply, your organisation must be one of the following.

  • An Armed Forces charity.
  • A registered charity with substantial recent experience of supporting Armed Forces communities and have been registered for at least one year at the time of your application.

To find out more click here.

Homelessness Winter Transformation Fund 2021/22 is announced

Posted on by Amy Hallett

Opening Early May

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced a £3 million grants fund to enable community and faith groups to provide winter services for people sleeping rough in 2021/22.

The funding aims to help small-to-medium homelessness charities, community and faith groups and voluntary sector organisations transform their winter services for people sleeping rough in response to the requirements of these individuals and the need to move away from communal sleeping arrangements as a result of Covid-19.

Managed by Homeless Link in partnership with Housing Justice, the £3 million Fund will include £1 million of capital and £2 million of revenue.

This funding is in addition to Government funding provided to local authorities to bring forward winter provision, including the £10 million Cold Weather Fund and £112 million Rough Sleeping Initiative.

The capital grants round opens to applications on 4 May. The funding prospectus and frequently asked questions will be published at that time.

In the meantime, groups should note the following dates:

  • 21 April 2021: Homeless Link webinar to set out key information about the fund
  • By end July 2021: Decisions due on capital funding
  • By early September 2021: Decisions due on revenue funding

Click here for further information.

Suicide prevention in England: fifth progress report

Posted on by Amy Hallett

The fifth progress report of the Suicide Prevention Strategy for England details the steps taken to reduce deaths by suicide since January 2019.

The report sets out:

  • the data and evidence we have on suicide and self-harm
  • the progress made against existing commitments designed to prevent suicides and self-harm
  • further actions for government and its agencies, particularly in the context of COVID-19

Click here for the full report.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for pregnant employees

Posted on by Amy Hallett

Department of Health and Social Care and Health and Safety have published advice for pregnant employees on risk assessments in the workplace and occupational health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This advice is for you if you are pregnant and working as an employee. This includes pregnant healthcare professionals. It will help you discuss with your line manager and occupational health team how best to ensure health and safety in the workplace.

click here for the guidance.

Independent Advocacy Services – Market Engagement Questionnaire (East Riding of Yorkshire)

Posted on by Amy Hallett

Deadline 20th April 2021

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) is looking to retender for the provision of Independent Advocacy Services, which currently includes the following services;

  • Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
  • Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) including a Relevant Persons Representative (RPR) service – This service may also receive additional instructed requests as part of Court of Protection processes for a Litigation Friend.
  • Independent Care Act Advocacy including Carers’ Advocacy
  • General Advocacy – The Council also provides a non-statutory service, which compliments the above services.

The new service will commence 1 April 2022. This is a market engagement questionnaire to help contribute to the development of a new model and service specification for the provision of independent advocacy within the East Riding of Yorkshire, to ensure the Council fulfils its statutory duties.

Click here for further information.

COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan

Posted on by Amy Hallett

Department of Health and Social Care and Cabinet Office plan to prevent, mitigate and respond to the mental health impacts of the pandemic during 2021 to 2022.

The COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan sets out an ambitious, cross-government, whole-person approach to promoting positive mental health and supporting people living with mental illness to recover and live well.

Click here for the policy papers.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Organised events guidance for local authorities

Posted on by Amy Hallett

The government published guidance sets out advice for local authorities in England around organised events during coronavirus.

This guidance is aimed at local authorities in England. It is designed to assist local authorities in ensuring that events are able to go ahead safely, in accordance with what is permitted at each step of the Roadmap out of lockdown.

Click here for the guidance.

NHS QR code venue posters: privacy notice

Posted on by Amy Hallett

Goverment have published information on the privacy notice for venues using the QR code registration and download process (the QR code process).

The QR code process, together with the NHS COVID-19 app, contributes towards the effective management of the coronavirus pandemic.

The QR code process is part of NHS Test and Trace, which is overseen by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Click here for further information.