26 Mar 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Special Brief – 25 March 2020

Wednesday 25 March

Thank you to everyone who joined us for today's VODG member Keeping in touch (KIT) call and for your contributions. We hope it was helpful to bring members together to share insights, issues and concerns. As we move to our next stage in supporting members, many of those discussions will now move to the COVID-19 Response Hubs, where you will also be able to continue the conversations and share resources as appropriate without requiring VODG to directly facilitate. Future calls will now become much more focused.

As a first step in this direction we have listened to the concerns about supplies and provisions and have teamed up with Marr Procurement. Managing Director Christoph Marr and a further guest speaker from a large distributor will share the state of the nation update on the supply of medical consumables, chemicals and PPE as applied to the care and health sectors in relation to the pandemic. Our focus will be both on the immediate challenges as well as future issues. It is important to recognise that there are no promises about the ability to supply such goods but members will have an opportunity to explore potential opportunities offline. A provisional date of 1 April has been set for a Zoom meeting (of around one hour). Please watch this space for registration details.

Erika Murigi | Head of Communications and Public Affairs

Coronavirus (COVID-19): key messages

In order to respond to developments arising from the pandemic, many charities and community groups may welcome support from the private sector. Please see below for details of a new volunteering initiative that helps link the business community with the voluntary sector.
Doctors of the World organisation has translated NHS guidelines into a number of languages. Please see below.
All feedback, please email [email protected]

Coronavirus (COVID-19): news

Government to provide free car parking for NHS and social care staff

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is giving immediate financial backing for all NHS trusts to provide free car parking to NHS staff for the duration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.

405k people sign up to help NHS

PM says 'role of volunteers will be "absolutely crucial" in fighting coronavirus.

Changes to DBS ID checking guidelines

Temporary changes to ID checking guidelines are being made as a result of the pandemic.

Letter from Helen Whately

Minister of State for Care writes to health and care recruitment agencies.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance

UPDATED: Government guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection

Stay at home guidance. Includes easy read and translated versions.

Social distancing in education and childcare settings

Government guidance for education and childcare settings on social distancing.

UPDATED: Government guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable

Now includes easy read version.

Charities SORP Committee guidance on financial reporting

Guidance on including COVID-19 impact in charity accounts.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): sector response

Human Rights implications of the Coronavirus Bill: the risk of making vulnerable adults and children even more vulnerable

British Institute of Human Rights briefing: the Coronavirus Bill 2020 and Selected Human Rights Implications.

Business community offers support to charities

Sector bodies including ACEVO, Charity Finance Group, Directory of Social Change, Institute of Fundraising, NAVCA, NCVO, SCVO, the National Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership, Volunteering Matters and the WCVA have come together to help charities and community groups get support from the business community.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources

Coronavirus information - translated

NHS guidelines translated into 34 different languages. From Doctors of the World.

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