A warm welcome to Multiple Disadvantage Matters, the newsletter from the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition.
During this unprecedented time, we're keeping you up to date with the latest policy changes, hearing about how you are responding locally, and learning more about how we can best support you at this time.
This week, we've got the latest policy updates on COVID-19, as well as a look back at other policy changes, unrelated to COVID-19, that you may have missed.
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Latest policy news - COVID-19
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New guidance for drug and alcohol services
The government yesterday published new guidance for commissioners of drug and alcohol services and drug and alcohol service providers during COVID-19.
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£2m announced for domestic abuse services
Domestic Abuse Services are to receive £2m during the COVID-19 lockdown to fund helplines and online support services. The Home Office has also launched a new domestic violence initiative called "You are not alone."
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Prison estate
The Ministry of Justice has announced new temporary cells to be built to move towards single-cell accommodation, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within prisons.
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Other policy developments
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£46m commitment to multiple disadvantage in March budget
The Chancellor announced £46m to provide 'improved support to individuals overcoming multiple complex needs' from the Shared Outcomes Fund. MEAM released a statement about this last month and is in touch with government about next steps.
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New permanent secretary for MHCLG
Jeremy Pocklington has been announced as the new permanent secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
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New guide for assessing health and social care needs for adults on probation
Public Health England have published guidance for commissioners on how to conduct a health and social care needs assessment for adults on probation.
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Domestic abuse bill progress in Parliament
The first reading of the re-introduced Domestic Abuse Bill took place in Parliament on March 3rd. No date for a second reading has been set yet.
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Updated data on health inequalties
The Health Inequalities Dashboard has been updated to March 2020. It presents data on health inequalities in England on 18 public health indicators.
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COVID-19 Resources from the sector
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Latest from Clinks
Clinks have a dedicated page updating the work they are doing around the crisis and outlining the most recent policy changes to prisons and probation. The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) has set up a special interest group on COVID-19, the latest meeting focused on ensuring the early prison release scheme works well.
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Homeless Link updates
Homeless Link has a dedicated COVID-19 resource page. They are holding weekly webinars on Wednesdays to keep the sector updated, and have launched an Online Response Forum to record local issues and practice. Tassie, our head of networks and operations, featured on yesterday's weekly webinar.
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Collective Voice resources
Collective Voice's director, Oliver Standing, spoke to the Society for the Study of Addiction last week about the substance misuse treatment sector's response to the crisis. Yesterday, Collective Voice published a new blog on the challenges facing the sector at this time.
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Information from Mind
Mind's resources on COVID-19 and mental well being are available here.
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National Emergencies Trust
The National Emergencies Trust has set up a Coronavirus appeal. The funds being raised for this appeal will be distributed through the UK Community Foundations Trust. Find your local community foundation trust here for details of how and when to apply.
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Tesco Bags of Help Fund
This fund has a single payment award of £500 to organisations supporting vulnerable groups rather than specific project activity. Apply here.
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Charities Aid Foundation
The Charities Aid Foundation have a funding hub for charities to access during this time, which has links to other funding opportunities.
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Frontline Network
St Martin in the Fields Frontline Network has recently opened a grant scheme for individuals who are homeless who need support at this time.
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Further opportunities
We are aware of a range of further emergency funding opportunities that are being discussed and will update via this briefing when more information emerges. Civil Society has collated a list of some of the funding being made available for charities during the COVID-19 emergency.
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FEANTSA morning bites webinar
FEANTSA will be holding short webinars on Wednesday mornings at 9am related to ongoing practice development and learning. Yesterday's (April 15th) webinar featured Dr Ray Middleton, the workforce development lead at Fulfilling Lives Newcastle Gateshead.
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Keeping you up to date at this time
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Our priority in this difficult period remains people facing multiple disadvantage and the people who support them. If you have any questions, comments or issues you would like to raise, please contact any member of the MEAM team.
Multiple Disadvantage Matters will keep you up to date with key policy developments affecting people facing multiple disadvantage. Please forward this email to colleagues, who can subscribe here for future editions. From now on, we'll get shorter updates to you more often.
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