Coronavirus

Financial support scheme for self-employed announced

26 March, 2020

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new scheme to support self-employed workers who have been hit by coronavirus restrictions.

Under the scheme they can apply for a grant of up to £2,500 per month.

The scheme is open to people who are already self-employed, have a self-assessment tax return for 2019 and that make trading profits of up to £50,000.

Coronavirus – Employment rights briefing

26 March, 2020

A summary of the latest government guidance for employers and employees.

Sick pay

Easy Read coronavirus information for people with learning disabilities

The organisation Easy Read has published simple versions of the government's advice on staying home (issued 24 March 2020) and on self-isolating, to help people with learning disabilities.

If you work with or care for people with learning disabilities, you will know it is important to find the right balance of information for them, to minimise distress and confusion.

Social Enterprise UK webinar - Adapting your business model

This webinar from Social Enterprise UK was live-streamed on Wednesday 1 April 2020, and is still available to view online.

It is focused on adapting your business model in light of coronavirus - for example, considering furlough for your workers, and looking at potential new markets. The webinar is led by Colin Downie, Sales and Partnership Director at WildHearts, a leading social enterprise which promotes social change through initiatives that support social mobility, gender equality and much more.

Date/Time:

Thursday, 26 March, 2020 - 11:00 to 12:00

Covid-19 funding to support frontline response

25 March, 2020

The National Emergencies Trust has launched a national appeal for local charities and grassroots organisations that are best placed to respond quickly to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Currently the appeal is raising funds which will be distributed through Community Foundations.

Further details about the appeal are on the Trust's website.

Information about how to apply for the funds raised will be published by Bristol's Community Foundation, Quartet, soon.

All Voscur services free until end of April 2020

24 March, 2020

Coronavirus has had a local, national and global impact, and we know that many of Bristol's community groups and organisations are balancing increased demand for services with workforce challenges, from self-isolation and illness to adjusting to online working.

Now more so than ever, Voscur aims to support the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector as much as possible, and that includes being aware of financial struggles.

Risk assessment template for coordinating volunteers

If you are coordinating a volunteer response to coronavirus, you need to complete a risk assessment to make sure your volunteers are as safe, aware and responsible as possible.

This basic template can be filled out with all the activities and tasks that your volunteers do, and the behind-the-scenes work you do to coordinate them.

Coronavirus social distancing information in other languages

There are 91 languages spoken by Bristol communities, and we need to make sure that everyone can access simple instructions on social distancing and looking after vulnerable people, especially if English is not their first language and they are not a confident reader of English.

The government has published resources in a range of languages, including Arabic, Cantonese, Gujarati, Polish and Urdu.

A message from Voscur: Bristol's response to COVID-19

23 March, 2020

Like other cities, Bristol is experiencing an incredibly fast rise in the number of grass-roots groups emerging in response to the pandemic and its consequences. We’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone in all communities across Bristol for this amazing response.

Guidance for groups and organisations working with volunteers during coronavirus

This is a useful list of do's and don'ts for community groups and organisations working with volunteers to support the community during the coronavirus outbreak.

Though it is not 'business as usual' for volunteering opportunities, it is vital to safeguard volunteers and the people being helped by them, and that means following best practice guidelines.

If there are any points in the guidelines that you need further information on, please contact Voscur on 0117 909 9949 or email info@voscur.org.