COVID-19 running your organisation

Funding and resources

• For COVID-19 emergency and recovery grants, please see our funding opportunities page, which is updated regularly.   

• Charity fraud in a pandemic, by the Fraud Advisory Panel, helps charities understand the additional fraud risks during coronavirus (and any other pandemics). The sheet was created in collaboration with Cancer Research UK, the Charity Commission, CFG, the National Cyber Security Centre, and the Small Charities Coalition.

• The COVID-19 Safer Spaces guide is to assist staff and volunteers in adapting their centres to enable safe reopening and hire.

• UK Fundraising has a list of virtual fundraising tools to help your organisation adapt to losing traditional fundraising methods during COVID-19.  

Government-related updates specifically for the VCSE sector

• The government has updated its guidance on running a charity during the pandemic. Key changes include an extension on holding members' meetings and AGMs virtually, or by video or phone, until 30 March 2021.

• The government has published updated guidelines for VCSE organisations and groups on volunteering during the pandemic. You can read a Voscur summary here.

• The Office for Civil Society has issued guidance for VCSE organisations and groups on volunteering and volunteer management in the second lockdown.  

• The government has created a webpage, COVID-19 guidance for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, with a comprehensive list of trusted resources for the sector. It was issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Office for Civil Society. The webpage includes advice for VCSE sector employers and employees, funding sources, and volunteering information. 

Management support

• ACAS has advice on returning to the workplace after home working or furlough. 
   
• The Justice Secretary has said it may be legal for companies to insist that new staff have have been vaccinated against coronavirus. However, the government has said it would be 'discriminatory' to insist existing employees are vaccinated to keep their jobs. In theory, a request that staff are vaccinated (unless they cannot be vaccinated due to a medical condition) could be written into an employment contract for new staff after analysing health and safety risks and job requirements.
   
• HR News has published tips on how to improve document security when working from home. Data is at risk of a higher breach when staff are working remotely.
   
• A new Voscur briefing, on VCSE sector needs in the first lockdown, has been published. We welcome feedback on the briefing - please email info@voscur.org. 
   
• Charity Digital Code has produced a free COVID-19 digital checklist for trustees and leaders, helping you track your organisation's progress with digital technology and work towards digital goals, with different topics to discuss in board meetings. The checklist will grow as more information and insights are added throughout the pandemic. 
   
• Re-opening village and community halls - Action for Communities in Rural England (ACRE) have published guidance on safely re-opening community buildings based on the two metre social distancing guidance.

• Working together with other VCSE organisations, informal and community groups is especially crucial at this time, and this guidance sets out some key principles and approaches to collaorating effectively.

• The Charity Commission has published guidance for charity managers and trustees about responding to Covid19, paying staff, using reserves, AGMs and reporting.

• Bates Wells have produced a webinar about legal issues you may need to consider for your organisation at this time. It's available on demand.

• Hope & May have produced advice on data protection, particularly concerning information about staff and their own health. The ICO have also offered advice to underline their position that data protection isn't a barrier to responding to Coronavirus, but people's information still needs safeguarding.

• Voscur's employment rights briefing covers HR issues such as sick pay, furlough, childcare and redundancy. 

• Voscur's summary of COVID-19 related resources is to support VCSE organisation management. 

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