April 3, 2020

Dear Friends and Colleagues

My message today is once again to ask for your support to lobby national government toward the provision of financial support for the sector. Here at Cummbria CVS we have been lobbying hard to get a national commitment to provide financial support to voluntary organisations but as of yet this has borne any real fruit.

 

– who are not only unable to generate funds through events and retail outlets, but whose reserves are already low.  The irony of course is that we are redirecting all our efforts to tackle the pandemic and support vulnerable people at the same time as we are financially vulnerable ourselves.  I have written several times to all Cumbria MPs – many of whom are supporting our call for help at Westminster.  We have linked with our national partners at NAVCA, NCVO, ACEVO and SCC (Small Charities Consortium) to help make the case – as well as with all our other partners in the NHS and Local Government, including the Local Enterprise Partnership.  I remain hopeful of a positive response and recognition of your contributions. Included below are some brief statistics relating to how voluntary organisations are fairing based on responses to a recent survey.

Finally – a plug for the Cumbria COVID-19 Emergency Helpline – for vulnerable people who may not be covered as part of the “shielded” groups and who may not have local support available:
0800 783 1966. Please help to spread the word.

Thanks for all you have done and continue to do.

Keep safe; 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)