News & Developments

A nighttime walk organised to raise vital funds for hospice care in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales is set to get the whole community glowing when it returns next year. 

Blythe House Hospicecare’s Glow Twilight Walk was due to take place on Saturday 18 July 2020, but following recent Government measures, and in times of such unprecedented uncertainty, this year’s walk is being postponed. 

The hospice has worked with event partners and the venue over the last few weeks, and is delighted to announce a new date for the 10k event on Saturday 15 May 2021. 

If you have already registered for this year’s Glow Twilight Walk, your place will be transferred automatically to the new date in May 2021. If you cannot make the new date, you would like a refund, or if you have any queries email: events@blythehouse.co.uk.  

Blythe House Hospicecare healthcare assistants continue to support palliative and end of life patients in the local community during the ongoing COVID-19 situation. If you would like to make a donation to support hospice services throughout this time, visit:  www.blythehousehospice.org.uk/donate

Each year every councillor has £3,860 which they can donate to groups in their area which aim to improve the lives of local people. At a meeting on Thursday 23 April DCC Cabinet agreed a proposal to double this amount of money, giving each councillor £7,720 for this financial year.

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news-events/news-updates/news/extra-cash-for-councillors-to-donate-to-local-community-groups.aspx

The grants awarded are to provide funds for supplies and equipment, publicity materials, or other critical items that are required to enable groups to deliver their COVID-19 emergency response.  You must be able to describe how any emergency grant will maintain or enhance your service.  Money should not be used for business as usual activities – unless these support vulnerable people.

The application is really simple and should not take any longer than 5 minutes to complete.  There is no cap on the amount an organisation can apply for.

For further information and a link to the application form  mediacentre.eastmidlandsairport.com/east-midlands-airport-launches-covid-19-relief-fund/

If you would like to talk to one of the East Midlands Team email Harry Winter Harry.Winter@eastmidlandsairport.com

Download:
Guide to Informal Community Groups Responding to COVID-19 Coronavirus

Each group will need to create their own ways of working tailored to suit the needs in their area and for their community.

Be aware this is a stressful time, misunderstandings and raised tempers might happen. Although everyone’s motives within your group are genuine, it is important that you take steps to protect the vulnerable and volunteers from the virus and also from false allegations, stress, overload and even abuse. 

For further detailed advice see our Covid-19 / Coronavirus resources on our website:
highpeakcvs.org.uk/coronavirus

If you need more information and guidance contact the staff at High Peak CVS on 01663 735350 or hello@highpeakcvs.org.uk we will be happy to help.  Please note that the office is closed but staff are all working from home and picking up voicemail messages and emails.

COVID 19 has united the world in many ways. Isolation is a great problem for elderly people worldwide, and Soroptimists have been busy phoning and messaging vulnerable people. Some groups have been busy sewing protective face masks, others have provided much needed protection of a very different kind. Domestic abuse has risen greatly during the lockdown, and Buxton Soroptimists continue to support a local safe house and work with Crossroads. 

sigbi.org/buxton-and-district/

In the past couple of weeks Glossopdale Foodbank had to spend a significant extra amount to replenish stocks, as they were running very low. Their funds cannot sustain spending at this level for a long period.

At present we are particularly short of:

• 1kg or 500g packs Pasta
• 1kg or 500g packs of rice
• Tinned spaghetti with or without sausages
• Tins of rice pudding 
• Tins of hot dogs 
• Tins of meatballs
• Tins of fish like tuna
• Tins of cold meat like ham or chicken 
• Tins of any vegetable (including potatoes and sweetcorn) - particularly 
• carrots!
• Tins of custard
• Tins of fruit
• Tea bags 80 bags a box

If you are able to help, there are donation baskets in Tesco in Glossop, Marks and Spencers, Glossop Wholefoods on Norfolk Square and The Coop in Simmondley. Also, Glossopdale Foodbank Lockup will be open to receive any donations on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays between 9am and 11am. Please leave donations in a plastic bag at the door between these times, to maintain social distancing.

The Lockup is in Unit 5 on the Brookfield Industrial Estate, Peakdale Road, Glossop SK13 6LQ. From the centre of Glossop, head out on the A57 towards Manchester, turn right opposite Glossop Caravans into Peakdale Road. Follow the road round to the left at the top and turn right at the little roundabout and go through the gates. The lockup is in Unit Number 5 on the right, opposite AJC Campervan Conversions.

www.ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk/news/new-trustees-april-2020

Download: Coronavirus - Do You Need Help?

DCC has a poster with information for volunteers about what to look out for and what they should do if they’re worried about someone being abused or neglected.

Waltham Forest Council has produced a short video for volunteers who are working anywhere to support their local residents - www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHQG8CJROhU. The purpose of the video is to raise the awareness with volunteers of safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults, and tell them what to do if they see something that does not feel right.

The message is simple: if you see something, say something.

Existing Funds

For those groups who have refocused their activities in order to provide a service under lockdown conditions, the advice is to speak to your funders, make them aware of the change so you have made and confirm they are happy to continue to fund your activity. 

Government Funds

Some voluntary sector agencies are eligible for some elements of the general Covid 19 related Government funding, most noticeably the coronavirus job retention scheme, coronavirus business interruption loan scheme and the deferment of VAT bills and business rates discounts for some types of charity.  Groups should check out www.GOV.UK to see if they qualify .

The Government also announced £750M of funding specifically aimed at the voluntary sector, it is made up of two parts;

- £370m for smaller organisations delivering essential frontline COVID-19 related services for vulnerable people, to be delivered via the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF). More details about the application system is expected to be up and running within the coming week. Keep an eye on their website for updates www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

- £360m from Government departments to support their existing voluntary sector partners, ie CAB, St Johns Ambulance etc. 

For both pots the emphasis will be on working with 'vulnerable people' although, as yet, we do not have a definitive list of who is deemed to be vulnerable. The common definition of small will remain any organisation with a turnover under £1 million. Applications will be for up to £100k and consortia applications are allowed.

Lottery Funding 

The Lottery will prioritise all new funding for the next six months for those who are directly working on a COVID-19 response with decisions within weeks.  

For those organisations that have already applied to the Lottery and are at Stage 2 of a Reaching Communities Grant the advice is to contact your Funding Officer.  You will be allowed to reshape your application to respond to COVID-19.

New Funding 

In addition a number of new funding pots have been announced, some with very tight deadlines and some are already having to pause the application process because of overwhelming demand.  National voluntary sector support agencies are pulling together a constantly updated database of all Covid 19 related funding opportunities and are offering free database access / newsletters.  Given how quickly the situation is evolving we are suggesting groups consider signing up for nationally updated information via well respected national agencies;

Charity Excellence (it is easy, quick and free) produce a regularly updated Covid 19 funding database and a newsletter www.charityexcellence.co.uk

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is free to those with a gross annual income below £30K.  In addition to funding information they also offer an email query service for specific voluntary sector Covid 19 related questions 
www.NCVO.org.uk

GRANTfinder has developed a public page to keep organisations up to date on new Covid-19 Grants - www.grantfinder.co.uk/coronavirus

If you need more advice or guidance regarding your group’s funding during the COVID-19 pandemic or to discuss the ongoing opportunities please do not hesitate High Peak CVS at sylvia@highpeakcvs.org.uk