#SmallCharityWeek

Small Charity Week is an annual event, run by the Foundation for Social Improvement.  Small Charity Week is focused on celebrating and raising awareness of the essential work of small charities and the contribution they make to the lives of millions of individuals, communities and causes across the UK and around the world. This year’s Small Charity Week runs from 15 – 20 June 2020.
Covid-19 means that this year Small Charities week will be celebrated virtually.  You can find out about the events that are taking place on the Small Charity Week website.

Here are some of the things that are happening:

Wednesday 17 June:Policy Day
To mark policy day during Small Charity Week, we will be discussing how small charities can build organisational resilience, considering the impact of covid-19. The Charities Aid Foundation, as part of their Resilience Programme, has identified six characteristics of resilience for small and medium sized charities. In this webinar, based on these characteristics, we will share policy insights and practical tips to help strengthen and support small charities in such a challenging climate. We will be joined by policy and impact experts at NCVO, as well as Beth Clarke, CAF’s Resilience Programme Manager. https://smallcharityweek.com/policy-day-2/

Thursday 18 June: Charity Speed Mentoring (10.30am – 11.30am)
Media Trust is celebrating Small Charity Week with a Virtual Volunteering Event. In small groups via Zoom, charities will have an opportunity to get free expert 1-to-1 advice with media and communications volunteers who can help you with the communications challenge you are facing.
Each breakout group will focus on a different communications area: Media and Journalism, Social Media and Digital Marketing, and Comms Strategy and Planning.
We have limited places available and the session is first come first served. To secure your place please email carlyb@mediatrust.org

Friday 19 June: Small Charity Big Impact Day 
This year during Small Charity Week we will be using Small Charity Big Impact Day to raise awareness of the incredible impact that UK small charities have locally, regionally, nationally and internationally! During this time, now more than ever the effects our work has is essential, with much of the work you do, as a small charity, going unnoticed – maybe because you are so busy doing and don’t have the time to tell everybody what you’re actually doing!  So rather than celebrating the few we want to hear about the many!

How it works: Using the provided template why not take a photo or record a short (10-20 second) video highlighting the amazing impact you made over the past 12 months. Post it on social media using the hashtag #SmallCharityBigImpactDay.  Download this template to support your efforts: Big Impact Template

https://smallcharityweek.com/small-charity-big-impact-day/

Saturday 20 June: Appreciation Day
This year Small Charities Coalition (SCC) want pay tribute to the incredible work of the individuals who work tirelessly to keep their small charity going.
It is essential to our collective wellbeing that we understand that Small Charities contribute enormously to both the immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the long term recovery from it. None of the work would be possible without the determination, hardworking and commitment of the volunteers and staff behind small charities. That is why this year we want to pay a special tribute and recognise the achievements of all those who have continued their efforts and to those who have been personally affected by COVID-19.

How it works: In the run up to Appreciation Day, we need small charities to share their thanks by emailing their Appreciation stories to tilly.humphreys@smallcharities.org.uk. You can also get in touch by using the hashtag #AppreciationDay.

Let’s show our appreciation! We want as many people to be recognised as possible, so we encourage you to spread.

For Twitter include: @SCweek2020 #AppreciationDay
For Instagram include: smallcharityweek #AppreciationDay
For Facebook – You can either contact SCC directly to have your appreciation story shared on the day, or post on our wall with a photo included.

https://smallcharityweek.com/celebration-day/

 

#Never More Needed
In the face of coronavirus, charities are #nevermoreneeded for the support they provide in crisis and beyond, and hope they shape our society for the better.

Never More Needed Campiagn
The government cannot afford to overlook or undervalue the not for profit sector at the moment. As we navigate the worst impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, people across the country are relying on charities, for the essential support they provide and how they shape our society for the better. And society will continue to rely on charities’ expertise and experience in the recovery effort that lies ahead.

A unique role
Charities and other not-for-profit organisations make our communities stronger. In the toughest times, they provide support no-one else can. Their unique role and services are invaluable right now and will be essential when the country begins to heal and re-build as we recover from the initial coronavirus outbreak.

Meeting everyone’s needs and rights
Our response to the crisis must match our values as a country and our hopes for a more equal and compassionate society. What we do and how we allocate resources will only be effective if we include the people, problems and places that are often overlooked. The work we do – and our relationships with communities – shows the need to strive to meet everyone’s needs and rights, right now and during the recovery.

Looking to the future
As we move beyond the acute stage of the coronavirus crisis, we lift up our shared values and use them as a guide for what comes next. Now is the time to choose to build a better future. Every policy and funding decision should lead us to the future we want: a fair and just society where every one of us can thrive.

For further  information and / or to get involved, visit the new website: https://nmn.org.uk/

Further to the announcement last week, I wanted to reiterate the message that as of 1 April 2020, membership of Cumbria CVS is now FREE.

See message from David Allen last week:

“I am pleased to announce that as of 1st April 2020, Cumbria CVS will no longer be charging a membership fee.  This was unanimously agreed by our Board as part of our developing strategy to support the sector whilst becoming financially sustainable.  Instead, we will be developing a range of free services for members along with a range of “paid-for” services.  This is a work in progress, and we will be consulting with you on this as our plans progress.  We welcome your feedback on this move – agreed before COVID-19 hit us, but hopefully still a valuable shift…

Any fees due from 01 April 2020 onwards will NOT be charged.  We won’t be refunding membership fees paid up until that date – even if they cover the bulk of the 2020/21 financial year – partly due to the administrative costs of doing so but also the “distraction factor” which would take us away from prioritising all our efforts into supporting the pandemic response.”

Naturally, we will contact you all in due course to provide further details of what this means for you – many details of which we are still working through – but just to say that we are looking forward to welcoming many more of you as members and providing support, information, advice, representation and many other valueable services for you and to you.

In the meantime,  if you have any questions, please do contact us – info@cumbriacvs.org.uk

Alison Phillips
Support Services Manager
Cumbria CVS

Dear Friends and Colleagues

My message today has changed from the one I wrote yesterday, which was asking for your support to help bring about change – to join Cumbria CVS and other other local, regional and national organisations lobbying hard to get a national commitment to provide financial support to voluntary organisations throughout this crisis – however, it seems that our joint effort has resulted in a success for the sector, although whether this is far reaching enough remains to be seen.

We have always been clear that government support was essential to helping the sector respond to COVID-19 and also to helping rebuild our communities post COVID-19 and the deal they have provided is as follows:

• £750 million pot for frontline charities across the UK – including hospices and those supporting domestic abuse victims
• £360 million direct from Government departments and £370 million for smaller charities, including through a grant to the National Lottery Community Fund
• Government will match donations to the National Emergencies Trust as part of the BBC’s Big Night In fundraiser later this month – pledging a minimum of £20 million

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-sets-out-extra-750-million-coronavirus-funding-for-frontline-charities

The sector asked for £4.4 billion, we got £750 million.

The challenge now is to ensure that everyone gets a slice of the cake, but it is already apparent that some organisations working in this sector will never be seen as a priority by government and do not fit the criteria and so there is still work to be done. Let us continue our fight to ensure that this sector – that is responding directly to the crisis and providing much needed assistance and support to the NHS and others – is recognised for its essential contribution to the response and recovery effort, and is still around in the weeks, months, years following COVID19 to provide the essential services that we all need. The fight still goes on.

I would however like to take this opportunity to thank some of our Cumbrian MPs who stpeed up to the plate – signing letters of support to the Chancellor (John Stevenson MP) responsing to my correspondence on the need for financial support – and helping HMRC regarding the poorly framed job retention scheme (Mark Jenkinson MP).

Join us – remember now our membership is free – and have a voice.

Keep safe and well and keep going.

David

David Allen
Chief Executive Officer
Cumbria CVS

Message from Prof John Howarth local NHS Strategic Incident Commander for Covid 19:

“On behalf of the local NHS I would like to say a huge thank you for the outstanding work undertaken by our third sector colleagues in response to the Covid 19 outbreak. Your actions to support  people in our communities is fantastic. Many of you have also helped us discharge patients back home from our hospitals allowing us to prepare really well in our local hospitals. We are coping well so far but the next few weeks will be challenging. I know this is a worrying time for everyone.”

Regards John

COVID 19 Strategic Incident Commander NCIC and ICP Professor John Howarth Deputy CEO, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust System Clinical Lead North Cumbria Professor of Primary Care UCLan (University of Central Lancashire) Clinical Lead for CLIC (Cumbria Learning and Improvement Collaborative)

New Support Line – 01228 525197
We know that having a cancer diagnosis is a worrying time and even more so now with the current Covid19 pandemic.  Many people are having to isolate at a time when help and support is needed more than ever.

We can help
Our Support Line is open every Wednesday and Thursday between 9:30am and 4:30pm at all other times there is an answering service, which we check regularly.

 Our team of skilled and experienced volunteers can:  

• Provide a friendly listening ear
• Help connect you with the help and support you need
• Provide information on a wide range of issues

Please see attached poster

Funding Advice and Support

If you are looking for funding to help support your organisation/group then we can help! Our advice and support includes helping you apply for funding relating to Covid-19 or for general funding. 

Contact us for further information on 01768 800350 or email cvsfunding@cumbriacvs.org.uk with your funding enquiry.

If you would also like to send through your draft application, please do so, but allow enough time before the funding deadline as we will need time to respond with feedback.

We also have a number of resources to support groups which are available on our website including:

• Constitution for small groups
• Legal Structures for Charitable Organisations
• Starting_up_a_voluntary_or_community_group_46
• Starting a group
• Are you fit to be funded?
• Funding Tips
• Funding Application Checklist
• Funding Applications letters
• Sources of Charity Funding covid-19

The delivery of our services will be in line with the advice below with support provided either by phone, email or other digital means. If you would like support with funding applications or with setting up a new group, please email cvsfunding@cumbriacvs.org.uk or call 01768 800350.

In this section we will aim to provide any updated advice, tips, resources, that may be of interest.
Please do bear with us – the information is coming through thick and fast and we are doing our best to coordinate and share this with you all.

Funding:

 

Crime Prevention
Althought this may be more appropriate on an individual level, it is important information that we are all aware about current scams:

 

What’s happening in Cumbria?
The Cumbria County Council website has a page giving up to date information on Coronavirus cases in Cumbria (and links to many of the websites mentioned below): https://cumbria.gov.uk/coronavirus/

Individuals
People who are concerned they are suffering symptoms that may be due to Coronavirus can use the tool on the NHS 111 website (or phone 111) to check what they should do: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19

Businesses
Larger third sector organisations will find useful information on the government’s webpage for businesses. Some of the information will also be relevant to smaller organisations and to volunteers as well as staff.

This includes information on when employees should stay away from work, how to respond to employees who need to take time off work, and how to clean premises after someone develops Coronavirus:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

Health and Care
The government advice for social and community care providers may be useful to a number of third sector organisations:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-social-or-community-care-and-residential-settings-on-covid-19

The full list of government guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance

Electricity and Gas Meters
A number of enquiries have been received regarding the vulnerability of self-isolating households who are unable to top up pre-pay electricity or gas meters, today BEIS have made a press announcement outlining the commitment of suppliers to ensure people are not left off-supply:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-agrees-measures-with-energy-industry-to-support-vulnerable-people-through-covid-19

Volunteering
https://www.supportcumbria.org.uk/

The Government is investing up to £25 million in Barrow.
The Towns Fund will target investment around a series of themes, although additional investment may also come from other public or private sources as part of the Town Deal. Have YOUR say on how the money should be spent and give us your ideas. Please get invovled and reply as soon as possible.

https://mytown.communities.gov.uk/make-a-suggestion/?town=2

#MyTown

Hello everyone – first and foremost – many thanks to all of you who got in touch with me regarding my son’s illness.  It was lovely to hear from so many of you and to get your well-wishes – and to pass them on to him.  I am pleased to say that he is making good progress and although he has to attend hospital overnight – he is out and about during the day.  We are very grateful to the fantastic support provided by the wonderful staff at the Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle.

So: what does this month bring?  Well – I for one am grateful for the growing daylight hours! It feels more normal to leave home and return in the daylight (sometimes!).  I am also seeing the snowdrops and daffodils making an appearance which gives me a sense of warmth and renewal.  On the subject of seeing the light….(sorry!)….

This month I just wanted to reflect on a single meeting I had in Keswick.  I am fortunate to know Bishop James Newcombe from other roles I have had in London: James is (amongst many other things) the Church’s lead on Health in the House of Lords – and had previously supported the All-Party Parliamentary Group on “Health in All Policies” which my charity had established.

It also happens that he is a lovely man: warm, welcoming, appreciative, humble and confident to share what and who he knows.  Our meeting probably lasted a couple of hours – but we covered a lot of ground.  James knows I am an atheist but recognises that the values that drive us both (and I suspect, many others in the voluntary sector) are similar and attuned.  On the health and wellbeing side, he described some of the initiatives currently pursued by the Church of England, a couple of which I wanted to share:

·         “Green Health”: using the Church’s land resources to develop gardening/agricultural opportunities for disadvantaged and vulnerable people.  There resources are considerable: in Cumbria alone, there are over 600 Churches (with Churchyards) dotted across towns, villages and remote rural locations.  At a national level – approaching 16,000 churches.  This facility links with NACRO (care and rehabilitation of offenders) helps support good mental health – and encourages both sustainable living and independence through growing and cooking the produce!

·         In a similar vein, the “Coalition of Christians against Loneliness” run a number of programmes identified as targeting the lonely: several groups established in Cumbria; many different “chaplains”: “Anna” Chaplains providing support to the elderly; “GP Chaplains” and “parish nurses” – doing home-visits to listen, comfort and provide non-medical support; voluntary “Deacons” supporting the interface between Church and Community – and (most surprisingly to me – “Rural Chaplains” based at Auction Marts. After becoming a permanent fixture at the regular animal markets – members of the farming community will approach them for advice and support – helping support a profession with one of the highest suicide rates.

Overall, the Church is moving to a more modern approach.  Plans to adapt half of all Church buildings to enable the community to use throughout the week: clearing the pews and providing a safe space; improving toilet and kitchen facilities; increasing accessibility for pushchairs and those with mobility challenges.

Why focus on this?  Well – for me personally – after 30 years to the day this week of working in the voluntary sector – this was a revelation.  My own (non)-religious position has clearly made me pretty ignorant of both the scale and capability of the various religious communities, organisations and volunteers to help tackle exactly the same issues as those we in the “non-religious” voluntary sector tackle on a regular basis.  Effectively, it feels like a parallel universe – but one which we need to know about and engage with if we are to truly capitalise on the co-ordinated efforts of society.

David Allen
Chief Executive Officer
Cumbria CVS

On Wednesday 12 February 2020 from 8-9pm, Cumbria CVS will be lead a twitter hour on volunteering to link with Student Volunteering Week (10-16 February 2020). The topic is: Volunteering Opportunities for Students so please join in and tweet your volunteering opportunities and photographs of students volunteering. Let’s celebrate and promote Student Volunteering Week 2020.
Please tag @Cumbriacvs and use the hashtag #cvsvolunteerhour

If your organisation is not on twitter or unable to join in then please email judiths@cumbriacvs.org.uk by Friday 7 February 2020 with any text or images you want tweeted.