With the increasing demand for our services, we wanted to share with you some information that may be useful to your organisation or beneficiaries. This includes important updates relating to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as how to keep yourselves or your beneficiaries safe at this time.
New Website launched by UKYouth and the NYA
UKYouth and the NYA have pulled together to launch a new web resource for the youth sector.
#YouthWorkSupport is now live and accessible for our sector to access. The site has been developed to provide a SINGLE point of access for information for youth workers and those working with young people. Some resources have been rapidly developed by both teams at their organisations as well as by partners. A massive collaborative effort to support our sector to meet the challenges young people will face over the coming weeks and months due to COVID-19.
Neighbourhood Watch: East Riding of Yorkshire Council: Seeks willing volunteers
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is seeking volunteers that would be willing to set up or join local Neighbourhood Watch schemes.
Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) is a scheme where neighbours, the police and local partners come together to build safe and friendly communities. Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators play a key role in sharing information between residents and the police.
The National Lottery Community Fund statement on COVID-19
The National Lottery Community Fund has issued a statement to organisations that have received funding from them and they have created a webpage that will provide you with updates from the fund.
The Coronavirus Community Support Hub has been launched as a response to the current Covid-19 situation. It offers a platform where cross-sector communities can connect, knowledge share, make offers of support and discover initiatives within their local areas. With an emphasis on enabling and removing barriers, the hub is designed to put the health and well-being of individuals as a priority during these changing times.
NCVO have also released a blog to share how they are continuing to provide support to charities and volunteers and this can be found on their website here: http://shorturl.at/cnv89.
Home working: preparing your organisation and staff
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published guidance to help organisations and individuals prepare to work from home during the coronavirus crisis.
As organisations will be encouraging more of their staff to work from home, new cyber security challenges are arising. This includes using new software, logging into online collaboration tools and the risks arising from lost devices, as well as phishing emails relating to coronavirus.
Finally, check out this useful list of online tools compiled by Charity Digital News, which could really help you and your teams work remotely.
EU citizen registering for GP services
Please see the message below from Hull CCG advising how anyone who needs to register with a GP, including non UK citizens, should do so.
It would appear we may be coming across EU citizens who have come over for a short period are seeking GP registration.
Please can we advise people to:-
Register with their local GP- to avoid pressure on one surgery
People can find their local GP via NHS Choices website- find GP – enter their post code which will bring up local GP (Visit https://www.nhs.uk/)
People register with some GPs on line, others may be require people to download a form and send in to GP- instructions will be on website
This will apply to anyone who needs register with a GP as well as EU citizens – this may include BME & gypsy and traveller communities.
Young Minds: Looking after your mental health while self-isolating
If you are self-isolating or social distancing because of coronavirus (COVID-19), it is important to look after your mental health. Here are some tips that may help.
ACAS: Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for employers and employees
ACAS have provided some very useful guidance for employers and employees, please follow the link for more information: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus
Humberside Police Economic Crime Unit issue advice about staying safe and protected from fraudsters
I appreciate these are difficult times and the attention of the nation maybe not looking in the direction of fraud. However, it is in these times that fraudsters look to exploit vulnerability and as more and more people self-isolate then vulnerability will increase. I have attached a number of useful links that people can follow for advice.
For any family members who use the internet it may be an idea to look at the final two web links below, you can check how secure your passwords are and if your e-mail has been breached by clicking on the appropriate links:
I have included some information about land line call blockers, the information may come in useful for friends or those who have elderly relatives. I am unable to endorse the call blocking apps for mobile phones. That said most do a decent job, the free ones may have ads that could be annoying to some people. Most , if not all modern mobile phones have built in call blocking software.
Below is a link that features information on call blocking apps for Android and Apple mobiles, the link below this one is official advice from Apple.
Dealing with unwanted calls on a landline has become much easier. Anyone receiving unsolicited calls via their home phone are to contact their telephone provider and ask them if they provide a free call blocking service, BT, Talk Talk, Plus Net, EE and Sky all provide a call blocking service that can prevent unwanted calls reaching vulnerable people. Alternatively call blocking devices and replacement telephones with call blocking software pre-installed are available to purchase:
PLEASE NOTE, IF A FRAUDSTER USES SPOOFING SOFTWARE TO GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF A TRUSTED NUMBER (SUCH AS A BANK) IT WILL BY PASS ANY CALL BLOCKER IF THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED PREVIOUSLY. If you receive a call from your bank, leave it for 10 mins, call them back on a different phone and ask them if they have rang you.
Further advice on call blocking products can be found on the links below.
Finally, for anyone with children, lone workers see attached, this featured on national TV yesterday and it looks great, could be used by all?. https://hollieguard.com/
Kind regards,
Detective Sergeant Ben Robinson
Domestic violence and abuse
Domestic violence or abuse can happen to anyone. Find out how to recognise the signs and where to get help.
You do not have to wait for an emergency situation to find help. If domestic abuse is happening to you, it’s important to tell someone and remember you’re not alone.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England launch My While Self toolkit
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England has today launched the My Whole Self toolkit, the digital centrepiece of its new campaign for workplace culture change.
My Whole Self is calling on organisations to empower people to bring their ‘whole self’ to work because it’s better for mental wellbeing and better for business.
£1m available to fund urgent small-charity coronavirus poverty relief
The £1 million Coronavirus Charity Help Fund has been set up by MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis personal charity fund to help those affected by the coronavirus.
Small registered charities, or local arms of bigger charities can apply now for a grant of between £5,000 and £20,000 for specific coronavirus poverty relief projects in the UK.
Examples could include foodbanks, charities engaged in community aid, financial advice help and more. The hope is to get the money distributed within the next couple of weeks, and thus the focus is on supporting projects that are up and running, or are in the process of being set up.
The deadline for applications is 11:59 pm on Wednesday 25 March 2020.
Coronavirus Community Fund
The Coronavirus Community Fund has been established to support community groups through this unprecedented time.
The focus of the fund will be to offer community organisations emergency funding to deal with emerging issues in the community as a result of the continuing threat of coronavirus.
Small Grants to Support Children’s Charities Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Registered charities working with early years disadvantaged children in England and Wales can apply for small sums of unrestricted funding to assist them during this difficult period.
In response to the current pandemic, this funder has changed the application guidelines and processes for its spring application round with the aim of supporting small and medium-sized charities, which may need extra assistance at this time.
The deadline for applications is 28 April 2020, with grants to be awarded as soon as possible after the closing date.
