Coronavirus

Safeguarding your volunteers during Covid-19

An overview of safeguarding for volunteers in the context of community responses to Coronavirus.

Making Tax Digital delayed

2 April, 2020

HMRC is postponing the digital links phase of its Making Tax Digital initiative due to the coronavirus outbreak.

HMRC told Charity Tax Group (CTG): “We understand that the impact of Covid-19 is creating extremely difficult times for all, and we are committed to helping in every way possible all those businesses facing unprecedented challenges.

CQC releases interim guidance on DBS checks

2 April, 2020

The CQC has released interim guidance on DBS and other recruitment checks for providers recruiting staff and volunteers to health and social care services in response to coronavirus.

The interim guidance has been launched after temporary changes were made to the DBS applications processes.

Guidance on data protection and coronavirus

Data protection issues might not be your first concern when your organisation is responding to coronavirus, but you should take some time to consider them.

You probably know all about GDPR, which came into force in 2018, and we discuss some GDPR issues in the attachment below.

There are lots of recommendations in the guidance to get you thinking about your organisation's data protection, with links to useful information sources.

Bristol City Council and CCG commissioners respond to Voscur’s request for flexibility

3 April, 2020

Updated: 03/4/2020

Bristol’s VCSE organisations are playing an important role in the city’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and are working hard to maintain and adapt their services to meet communities’ needs. We had received feedback and some concerns about the challenges of bidding for contracts/grants while delivering services in increasingly complex situations and managing workforce challenges.

Centre for Social Justice publishes voluntary sector coronavirus resilience report

1 April, 2020

The Centre for Social Justice has published a report on the resilience of the voluntary sector during the Coronavirus outbreak.

The report looks at the impact on the sector’s income and makes a number of asks to government.

Age UK telephone befriending handbook

Being a Telephone Befriending Volunteer

Age UK Bristol's handbook for telephone befriending - updated to include advice about befriending in the context of Coronavirus.

Government launches WhatsApp Coronavirus chatbot

30 March, 2020

The government has launched a new free-to-use automated chatbot service to provide British citizens with information and advice on Coronavirus.

It is hoped that the service will reduce the burden on NHS services and help reduce the spread of misinformation about the virus.

Sport England calling for suggestions on how they could help during the crisis

30 March, 2020

Sport England are concerned about the financial impact of coronavirus on the sport and physical activity sector, and are looking at options to help mitigate this.

They are exploring ways that they can help and are asking for input - if your organisation is part of the sport and physical activity sector, please contact Sport England via coronavirus@sportengland.org and let them know:

COVID-19 updates from Bristol City Council

26 March, 2020