Covid-19 Information and Resources

National Lockdown Restrictions (From 5 November 2020)

BVSC has compiled some FAQ guidance to help navigate VCFSE Sector organisations through the latest guidance: Read more

General information and advice: Coronavirus/Covid-19

What you can and can't do (Cabinet Office): Read more
Latest Information about Coronavirus (NHS): Read more
New coronavirus restrictions in Birmingham (from 15 Sept) – frequently asked questions (Birmingham City Council): Read more
Local restrictions in West Midlands (Dept of Health & Social Care): Read more
Test and Trace (Birmingham City Council) Read more
NHS COVID-19 App and NHS QR Codes for venues (NHS Test & Trace): Read more
Coronavirus Cases in the UK - Daily updates (Dept of Health & Social Care and Public Health England): Read more
Self-isolation and treating Coronavirus Symptons (NHS): Read more
Guidance for health and social care settings, other non-clinical settings, and for the general public. (Public Health England): Read more

Health and wellbeing

Physical health

Daily permitted exercise: Tips and ideas for people who want to conduct their daily permitted exercise outdoors safely (West Midlands Cycle & Walk): Read more
Activities and advice to keep you stay stay physically active and maintain good mental health (Sport Birmingham) Read more

Mental health

Support for children & young people, adults and key workers (Birmingham & Solihull CCG) Read more
Telephone counselling: Birmingham Mind's Helpline is open 7 days a week from 9 am - 11 pm. Tel: 0121 262 3555. Or email [email protected].
Kooth: Online mental health support for young people (aged 11 to 25) - A new free, safe and anonymous service to support young people’s emotional and mental health in Birmingham. www.kooth.com
Looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak (Mental Health Foundation): Read more
Covid-19 and the VCSE Mental Health Sector (Association of Mental Health Providers): Read more

Health Conditions

Alzheimer's: Caring for people with demential during Covid-19. (Alzheimer's Society). Read more

Domestic Violence

Reporting domestic violence and where to go to seek help (West Midlands Combined Authority) Read more
Safety Advice for Survivors (Women's Aid) Read more
#NoExcluseforAbuse: Multi-agency WM campaign aimed at providing victims of domestic abuse with the right information on how to get help and end the abuse they are suffering. (WMPCC): Read more
'Rail to Refuge' - free train travel for women fleeing domestic abuse (Women's Aid): Read more

Disability

Support and guidance for people with disabilities is being provided online and by telephone by DRC (Disability Resource Centre): Read more
Registering for help as a vulnerable person. Disabled citizens who haven't been listed on the NHS vulnerable list can register themselves online in order to access essential services. Read more

Substance Misuse

Information and advice about drugs and alcohol, and the different ways support is being offered from CGL (Change Grow Live): Read More

Carers

Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family (Dept of Health & Social Care) Read more
Information and advice for Carers - this dedicated Covid-19 Web page contains relevant information for carers including local support and advice about writing a 'What IF' plan (Forward Carers): Read more
Direct Payments: Advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment (DHSC): Read more

End of life and bereavement

Bereavement Support Helpline available five days a week in Birmingham and Solihull (Birmingham & Solihull CCG) Read more
"Hoping for the Best and Planning for the Worst" - Advice for people, families and communities planning for the end of life care and bereavement support (St Mary's Hospice/BVSC): Read more
Six short films about end of life and dying issues from the Muslim perspective (John Taylor Hospice/BIMA) Read more
Coronavirus: Easy Read Factsheets (Cruse Bereavement Care). Read more
Free booklets for children, young peolple and their carers (Cruse Bereavement Care) Read more
Understanding bereavement (short film) (Cruse Bereavement Care) Read more
Co-op Funeralcare Hardship Fund - The Co-op Funeralcare Hardship Fund can help with funeral costs. Read more (opens as pdf)

Leading your charity or organisation

Business and charity support

Free financial Resilience support for charities and social enterprises (BVSC): Read more
Guidance and resources to support charities, voluntary organisations and volunteers: (NCVO): Read more
Guidance for the charity sector (Charity Commission): Read more
Unoccupied premises: Advice for looking after premises (Charity Times blog: 7/4/20). Read more
Social Enterprise support: iSE has set up a free telephone Helpline for social enterprises who want to chat about any issues or concerns. Call: 0121 771 1411
Business support: What Government help is available and who is eligible? (HM Government Business Support): Read more
Pro Bono support: By calling out to businesses Volunteering Matters can connect your organisation to the right people, skills and resources to support your response to COVID-19 Read more

Employment & HR

Employment Law: Key points including keeping your staff safe; should they come to work; pay; managing home working; furlough leave and maintaining core services. (Elizabeth Scholes, Employment Law and HR Services). Download the guide (opens in Word)
Employment and benefits support (DWP): Read more
Guiding and mentoring individuals into employment, education or training (The PURE project) Read more
Support for employers and jobseekers (Birmingham City Council) Read more
Employment, training and eduction support for under 30s (Birmingham and Solihull Youth Promise Plus) Read more

Volunteers and Volunteering

Volunteer Guidelines (Birmingham City Council Public Health Division and BVSC) (22/05/2020) Read more
Infection Protection and Control (Birmingham & Solihull CCG) Read more
Safeguarding adults with Care and Support Needs (Birmingham City Council) Read more
Safeguarding and DBS Factsheet: FAQs (Disclosure and Barring Service) Read more
DBS Applications and Fast-track Barred List check service (Disclosure and Barring Service): Read more
Safeguarding responsibilities. Follow the guidance from Birmingham Safeguarding Adults Board: Download BSAB Advice (opens in pdf).
How to Help Safely (Cabinet Office): Read more

Funding

UK Government Coronavirus Community Support Fund - This £200,000 fund aimed at small and medium sized charities opens Friday 22 May at 10 am. Read more
Barclays: The 100x100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme is giving 100 donations of £100,000 to charities working to support vulnerable communities impacted by COVID-19: Read more
Heart of England Community Foundation: Coronavirus Resilience Fund - available for constituted groups providing services such as food banks, social eating projects, emergency food parcel deliveries, and those engaging in outreach activities; all vital for various constituencies within the West Midlands. Read more
The National Community Lottery Fund will be prioritising funding Covid-19 related applications over the next six months. Read more
Community Initiatives Fund (West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner) £200,000 fund to help voluntary and community organisations overcome social effects of Coronavirus isolation. Read more
Grants of up to £150 for young people facing financial hardship (Matt Kendall Foundation). Read more
Financial Support for Care providers (Birmingham City Council) - £5m package focused on supporting hospital discharge and to recognise the additional costs providers are incurring due to the pandemic. Read more
Severn Trent Community Fund: £1m fund to support non-profits and charities. Read more
National Lottery – Heritage Emergency Fund - £50 million fund to support the heritage sector as an immediate response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Read more
Sport England Community Emergency Fund - Awards of between £300 and £10,000 for community sport and physical activity organizations in financial hardship: Read more
Co-op Funeralcare Hardship Fund - The Co-op Funeralcare Hardship Fund can help with funeral costs. Read more
Arts Council England: £160 m fund to be available for organisations and individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more

Support and Guidance

Multilingual resources

Multilingual Covid-19 Resources and Guidance (West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership): Read more
Health Information translated into 44 languages (Doctors of the World): Read more
Covid-19 information information videos in a range of languages (Leeds City Council) Read more

Asylum and immigration

Free online wellbeing and cultural resources (Migrant Help) Read more
Language interpretation: migrant health guide (Public Health England): Read more

Crime, Personal Safety and Scams

Advice to avoid latest scams: Follow the advice of Action Fraud and West Midlands Police in taking the right action to keep themselves safe online and with scammers going door-to-door.

Free goods

End of line and discontinued stock from major suppliers (Giving World): Read more

Latest

Carer Aware Training

This accessible e-learning is provided by Birmingham City Council -you will learn more about what it's like to be a family/unpaid carer, increase your, knowledge about carers rights and the tremendous contribution that carers make to society and the economy.
Community Development and Social Medias Officer

African French Speaking Community Support, Closing date: Friday 4 December 2020
Workplace Champion Volunteer

To be a vital link between the Carers Trust and your colleagues. Putting up posters/distributing leaflets in the workplace, signposting colleagues to our web site or referring themselves to us.
Local Awareness volunteer

To be a vital link between the Carers Trust and the community. You will be raising awareness of the organisation and the services it offers.

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for Voluntary, Community Faith and Social Enterprises

BVSC has compiled FAQs and guidance to help VCFSE sector organisations to understand what is permissible under the current National Lockdown restrictions which came into force on 5 November.
Call out to stand in solidarity around the real causes of England's housing emergency

Baobab Women’s Project and Shelter Birmingham have come together to develop a statement of solidarity which puts the record straight about the causes of the housing emergency.
Veg advocates sought for the Food Foundation's Peas Please initiative

Peas Please is about making it easier for people to eat more veg both for a healthy body and a healthy planet. By working with farmers, high street food chains, restaurants, supermarkets, governments and people like YOU, all at the same time, we can make sure everyone can eat enough veg.
Webinar: Why tackling inequalities is everyone’s business and everyone’s battle in Birmingham

Join us on for this special webinar on Monday 30 Nov at 4pm, when when BVSC CEO Brian Carr will be joined by Cllr John Cotton and Faeeza Vaid MBE, Executive Director Muslim Women's Network UK, to discuss the report 'Everyone’s Business, Everyone’s Battle: Tackling Inequalities in Birmingham'.
BVSC statement and FAQ guide to Tier 2 Restrictions in Birmingham

BVSC has produced a statement and FAQ document intended to provide some clarity as to what activity is - and is not - permitted under the Tier 2 restrictions for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector organisations in Birmingham.
Launch of 'Request Help as a Local Organisation' service from BVSC and the VCS Emergencies Partnership

When local voluntary organisations need extra support, they should firstly approach their local voluntary sector support organisation However, there may be times when there is not enough local capacity to provide the support required. At this point, organisations in need can make a request for support from the ‘Request help as a local organisation’ service.
Community Organiser

ACORN Birmingham, Closing date: Tuesday 12 January 2021
Micro fund open to grassroots community groups in Birmingham

The Brum Recovery Micro Fund is set up with funding from Birmingham City Council and is aimed at unconstituted and grassroots community groups in the city. Groups can apply for up to £2,000 and the deadline for applications is 8 December 2020.
Local Hospice marks Pancreatic Cancer Month with live virtual play

On 24th November, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice will be hosting a live, online performance of Homeward Bound – a play based on the true story of Seth and Lesley Goodburn and the 33 short and heart-breaking days from Seth's diagnosis with pancreatic cancer to his death.
Are you involved in providing food on the streets of Brum?

The Food Justice Network is collating the latest information on who is doing what, where and when. Complete their short survey to help build the picture of support in Brum.