Advice & Support

In the first instance check the new restrictions here on the government website and the guidance referenced below.

Under the new restrictions there is an exemption from gatherings limits:

• support groups of up to 15 participants – formally organised groups to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support, where it is necessary for these to take place in person. These cannot take place in private dwellings. Under-5s do not count towards the 15 person limit for support groups

If you would like any support to think about whether your group and/or activity falls within this definition and your decision to continue operating please email support@versacollective.org and we will call or email you a reply.

The new restrictions set out details of venues which can remain open. In particular:

• Community centres and halls must close except for a limited number of exempt activities listed here

As a member of Wigan Borough Community Partnership we will email you with details of upcoming training event, the latest news and guidance, our monthly funding bulletin and the opportunity for you to advertise and volunteer opportunities your organisation has.

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If you are permitted to open and plan on opening under the latest restrictions you may find the guidance below useful.

• The government has produced a wide range of sector specific guidance which can be found at gov.uk/coronavirus.
• The key piece of government guidance on reopening community facilities is COVID-19: Guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities
• Other sector specific guidance that we are often asked about includes:

1. Offices
2. Working in or delivering to other people’s homes
3. Working in or from vehicles
4. Performing arts
5. Grassroots sports and gym / leisure facilities
6. Shops
7. Out of school settings e.g. holiday and after school clubs
8. Early years
9. Outdoor activities
10. Places of worship
11. Close contact services
12. Reporting outbreaks of coronavirus

Many VCSE sector organisations have adopted distance working and working-from-home arrangements, or moved their activities online. There are a number of digital tools to support organisations responding to Covid-19. A few that might be helpful for you include:

• Microsoft Teams is being widely used by public services. It includes video-conferencing facilities, the ability to share files, and instant messaging tools (like SMS messages, but on a computer). Microsoft are now making a free version of Teams available to anyone. This might help you to engage more effectively with public sector organisations in your area. Find out more on the Microsoft Teams site.
• Zoom is also being widely used for people tovideo-conference over the internet. Find out more about how to use Zoom here.
• Dropbox is a service for sharing files remotely. It is offering free Business accounts for three months to charities and non-profits working on Covid-19 response. Sign up here.
• Mailchimp is a system for sending out email newsletter (it simplifies distribution lists, scheduling of emails etc). It is making a similar offer of free access to its paid-for service (called ‘Standard’) to Governments and charities who need to communicate with people about the disease. Sign up here.

We should all be wary of the increased risk from fraudulent emails at this time. Action Together has produced some simple tips to protect yourself and your organisation from e-mail scammers.

Before reopening it is important to balance the risk, and to ask whether the risk of not opening outweighs the risk of opening.

It is essential that you carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment before reopening your premises – a risk assessment should be carried out in line with HSE guidance.

You will find some useful templates and examples below:

• Checklist and Risk Assessment*
• HSE Risk Assessment Template*
• Community Matters – Risk assessment

The resources marked * were created by 4CT and MACC for North Manchester Together and are shared with their kind permission

The government have produced guidance on Enabling safe and effective volunteering during coronavirus (COVID-19). This guidance aims to help organisations and groups understand how to safely and effectively involve volunteers during the pandemic.

This guidance complements other GOV.UK guidance on volunteering and helping others safely during the pandemic, which are aimed at potential and existing volunteers.

Salford CVS has created a Risk Assessment Toolkit which we have shared with their kind permission.

• All staff and volunteers should be encouraged to complete the My Covid-19 Self Assessment
• The organisation can then complete an individual risk assessment using the Individual Covid-19 Risk Assessment Toolkit

• 2m distance*
• Face masks on public transport*
• How to get a test*
• Staying Covid-19 Secure in 2020
• Protect Yourself (social distancing) – Community Matters
• Coronavirus Resource Centre – Public Health England
• Coronavirus resources translated into different languages – Public Health England

Support for community businesses and jobs

Wigan Council

Test and trace means testing people for coronavirus and then tracing the people an infected person has come into contact with. The key role for organisations is to ensure that they follow government guidance including ensuring conducting risk assessments and acting on them to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Below is the Government Guidance about maintaining records to support with this, and resources to enable you to create a QR Code Poster:

• Creating a coronavirus NHS QR Code
• Government Guidance – maintaining records to support NHS Test and Trace
• Introducing the NHS Covid-19 App – Explainer Pack
• How to create a QR Poster
• ICO Guidance – data protection
• ICO FAQ – data protection

Coronavirus has impacted every organisation in different ways. It is crucial to ensure that any decisions that are taken by your Board are made in line with the procedures laid out in your governing document.

Business Continuity Planning 

• You should think about business continuity planning (planning to keep your group and your key activities going). NVCO have produced a document on Organisational Resilience which can help you think this through. Download NCVO’s Organisational Resilience checklist
• We have also produced a checklist for smaller, grassroots, volunteer-led groups. We would encourage you to review and complete the document before contacting us. We can then provide the best support for you. Download guidance for volunteer-led groups

Some continuity issues to think about may include:

• The emergency contact details for your team and members
• Having processes in place to allow home working should the need arise. If your building is closed or your team have to isolate themselves how will you continue to operate?
• How you support members / beneficiaries by phone rather than face to face
• What difficulties and issues will arise if your team are off sick, and how will you manage them?
• How you will manage expectations of members, beneficiaries, and stakeholders including commissioners?