Funding and resources for York's voluntary sector

Wednesday 29 April, Issue 5

Thank you to everyone who has already completed our COVID-19: Impact on York's VCSE Sector Survey. The survey closes at midnight on Friday so please, if you can, let us know the issues your organisation is facing so we can ensure you receive the right support.

A big thank you also to everyone who joined our first VCSE online meeting earlier today which was a great networking opportunity and as a result we will be making this a regular feature. Please join our online meeting next Monday with representatives from Two Ridings Community Foundation and The National Lottery Community Fund - more information and booking details below.

You'll see that we are also joining the national #NeverMoreNeeded campaign to highlight the vital work of the sector. All the details about how you can get involved and how you can promote your organisation locally can be found below.

Alison Semmence
Chief Executive

York CVS

Join the #NeverMoreNeeded campaign
We’re joining the national #NeverMoreNeeded social media campaign by posting about our activities and services during the pandemic and we’re asking you to support the campaign too.

The #NeverMoreNeeded campaign is intended to gain public support for the work the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector does and to highlight how valuable this work is to our local communities. You can get involved by using the hashtag #NeverMoreNeeded in your tweets and social media posts about your activities in the community. You can add the #NeverMoreNeeded graphic to your profile too.

Meet the funders online meeting
Date and time: Monday 4 May, 11:00-12:00
We're receiving a lot of feedback from organisations that funding and finances are increasingly becoming an issue so we've organised an online meeting with representatives from Two Ridings Community Foundation and The National Lottery Community Fund. During the meeting we'll hear about the funding available from these two funders followed by a live Q&A. Please book online by clicking the button below.

Book online

VCSE Sector Meeting
Earlier today we hosted a virtual meeting for members of York's voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to come together to discuss any issues that organisations are facing, look for solutions and to provide an opportunity for partnership working. A huge thank you to everyone who attended, we'll be making this a regular feature!

COVID-19: Impact on York's VCSE Sector Survey
Thank you to everyone who has already completed our 'COVID-19: Impact on York's VCSE sector' survey. The survey closes at midnight on Friday 1 May, so please share your experiences with us so we can gain a wider understanding of how the pandemic is impacting the sector. The information you provide will support our direct conversations with funders and governing bodies, and will shape our services, to ensure the sector has the support it needs now and in the future.

Complete survey

Local information, guidance and resources

Promoting your organisation
It's safe to say that as a sector, we're all incredibly busy at the moment. We're adapting to new ways of working, providing new services and managing an unprecedented situation. So, having the time to really shout about our services and the amazing work we are doing isn't always possible.

As well as supporting the national #NeverMoreNeeded campaign, we're also working with City of York Council to help promote the vital work York's voluntary, community and social enterprise sector is providing for our communities. If you would like to promote the work your group or organisation is doing, please email us at: info@yorkcvs.org.uk.

We'd also like to highlight BBC Radio York's Make a Difference campaign, where you can submit news updates about your organisation's activities by emailing: radioyork@bbc.co.uk (please put "Make a Difference" into the subject title). You can also promote your organisation's activities on Jorvik Community Radio by emailing: studio@jorvikradio.com.

Volunteer ID badges and validation letters
We're continuing to work alongside City of York Council, Move the Masses and North Yorkshire Police to ensure volunteers have the right identification and documentation to be able to volunteer safely within the city. If your organisation needs ID badges for your volunteers or if you have volunteers out and about within the community, please get in touch and find out how we can support you.

More information

Inclusion North daily updates and resources
Inclusion North, who make inclusion a reality for all people with a learning disability or autism and their families, has published lots of resources and information on their website. The resources include video links and audio files to help people during the pandemic.

Visit website

UPDATED: HR guide to Furlough and volunteering
We've updated our HR Guide to Furlough with the latest Government information about volunteering. Please download the guide here.

If your organisation needs further support in relation to managing staff or with any human resources-related issues during the coronavirus pandemic, please get in touch with us by emailing: HR@yorkcvs.org.uk.

National guidance and resources

Rachael Maskell MP to hold weekly surgery for organisations
Responding to the many challenges facing the breadth of charities, voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises, Labour’s Shadow Minister will hold weekly surgeries with organisations in the sector starting on Tuesday 28 April 2020. To book an appointment please email: Rachael.maskell.mp@parliament.uk.

The surgeries will create opportunities for organisations to share their experiences of the current crisis and how they will need support to continue to provide services to their communities.

Read full press release

NCVO Webinars
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is hosting a number of webinars designed to support the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector during the pandemic. Recordings of the webinars will be made available on their website. The topics include:

5 May: Involving volunteers: What you need to know
14 May: How to involve/safeguard your volunteers
11 June: Making decisions in tough times

Book online

Advice for supporting staff during traumatic situations
NAVCA has published guidance on how to support staff and volunteers during traumatic situations. The advice is adapted from material produced by the BMA, Freedom from Torture, and the Helplines Partnership.

Read advice

Charity Commission managing financial difficulties guidance
The Charity Commission has updated its guidance for charities in relation to managing financial difficulties during the coronavirus pandemic. The guidance looks at related financial difficulties and how to work through them.

View guidance

Funding and Development

Visit our COVID-19 Funding Information page for more local and national funding information. If your organisation needs support with funding advice and applications, please contact our Funding and Development Officer, Jane Granville: jane.granville@yorkcvs.org.uk

Two Ridings Community Foundation launch second grant
Two Ridings Community Foundation has launched a second grant in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase 2 of their grant making strategy focuses on the needs of key community organisations. In this phase they will be offering larger grants of up to £10k and will also welcome larger partnership bids from groups that are seeking to come together to provide a strategic solution to a particular issue for example, food provision in a particular geographical area or support for people affected by homelessness. They will also prioritise groups that are working with the most marginalised and underrepresented people in our communities.

More information

Localgiving Magic Little Grants
Grants of £500 to small local organisations to support and inspire people to participate in sports or exercise. This can include online fitness classes during a period of social distancing. Applicants need to be members of Localgiving, but this is currently free of charge and simple to sign-up to.

More information

Free online fundraising conference
Date: 20-21 May
Third Sector are hosting an online fundraising conference free for registered charities and social enterprises. The event, titled: 'Fundraising in the coronavirus pandemic and beyond' will focus on the following topics:

Identify: New revenue streams - diversify and grow your fundraising
Adapt: Build a fundraising framework for business continuity and risk management
Engage: Support volunteers and donors to raise funds
Build: New fundraising strategies and practices to create sustained regeneration

Aviva Community Fund
Deadline: 5 May
The Aviva Community Fund has broadened its criteria to include applications for projects that enable causes to adapt or continue their services by covering core running costs, so they can help their beneficiaries and communities during this time of need.

Apply online

The best charity text donation services
Charity Digital has updated their information on the best UK charity text donation services. The article provides details on Donr, Instagiv and DONATE and looks at each platform including cost and distinctive features.

Read article

Growing Green Spaces Fund opens
The 2020/21 funding round of Growing Green Spaces is now open! Apply by midnight on Sunday 31 May for grants of £100 – £1,500 to enhance York’s green spaces through volunteering. Projects that are scheduled to begin after lockdown or lockdown-friendly are welcomed.

Download application form

Health and Wellbeing

Ecotherapy at St Nicks
St Nicks are still taking referrals and sign-ups to their ecotherapy project. The project promotes good mental and physical wellbeing through outdoor activity in the natural environment. Due to the pandemic group activities have been suspended but there are a range of online sessions including: creating writing, discover nature and Nordic walking. Visit their website below or email: ecotherapy@stnicks.org.uk for more information.

St Nicks are also still operating their recycling collections, so please get in contact with them to request additional collections (mostly within the city centre) by emailing: recycling@stnicks.org.uk

More information

Transform Your Wellbeing – online workshops
Transform Training has designed a package of interactive online workshops to support people to look after their emotional wellbeing during the pandemic. Organisations can also book workshops for their staff team, or their service users. The workshops can be one-to-one or delivered to groups and all workshops are free of charge.

More information

How are the COVID-19 restrictions affecting your health and wellbeing?
NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) would like to find out how the restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) are affecting people’s everyday lives. They are carrying out a short survey to find out more and would like to hear your views about what worries you the most. The information will be shared with the Council, NHS and voluntary sectors organisations in the area. The survey closes on Monday 4 May at 12pm.

Complete survey

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