Voluntary Sector Support Required
In these unprecedented times the BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) health and care providers are reaching out to their local voluntary partners to help them meet the increasing demands on services as a result of Covid-19 and the increasing number of existing NHS staff currently unwell, isolating or shielding at this time.
This request is for short-term voluntary support, it is not a requirement for volunteers to fill long-term gaps within our local NHS workforce. Our BSW organisations have already redeployed their own staff to fill gaps (where possible) the list attached details roles which either internally or utilising their additional workforce tools (bank staff etc.) they are unable to resource.
We appreciate that at this time there is already a significant demand on our local voluntary services but, if you are willing to volunteer your time, with your support these organisations will continue to provide the very best health and care service to those most in need at this time.
If you are able to offer support in any way, please email bswccg.peopleinbox@nhs.net.
A full list of the support required at this time can be found by clicking here
Voluntary Sector Support
We know that charities voluntary organisations across the town will need additional help and support to help get up and running again,.
As we move back towards some form of normality after the Coronavirus pandemic we know that charities voluntary organisations across the town will need additional help and support to help get their organisations up and running again, below you will find a number of pieces of useful information and advice which we feel will help you do this.
This page will be updated as and when new information becomes available to us that we think will be useful to local charities and voluntary groups.
If there is any information you would like to be included on here or you need help with please get in touch with us, likewise if you have any example documents which you think would be useful for other charities and voluntary groups within Swindon to see please send them through to us and we will add this to the information below.
Please email all information to info@vas-swindon.org
Funding
Funding help has never been more needed by charities and voluntary groups of all sizes, if you would like help identifying funding for your organisations or help completing an application for then please get in touch with VAS’ Funding and Governance Advice Manager, Carol Willis, who will be more than happy to help you with this.
Carol can be contacted by emailing carol@vas-swindon.org
Free Training Resources
Available Community Room Space to Hire
Below is a list of rooms that are available at the moment in Swindon for meetings and group work.
For general paid community centre rooms in Swindon go to: www.book-online.co.uk
Venue | Room size | Charge | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Radio Studios, Liden Centre, Barrington Close, Liden SN3 6HF | Small studio | Small charge | 07951 366289 | |
Various | See website | 01793 466499 07494 689578 | ||
Small room Larger rooms | FREE to charities See website | Dave Bell | 01793 954802 | |
Various | See website | Chris / Jenny | 07582 305760 07312 083949 |
Asda and Tesco Community Rooms are no longer available. Asda found this to be a security issue so have withdrawn this offer. Tesco may start again in the future.
In need of more volunteers
If you are a community group experiencing higher than usual levels of demand for your services or impacted by staff or volunteer absences and need some more willing volunteers please email corona@vas-swindon.org the details of what you need and we will try and match your needs to willing volunteers.
If you need more general help in respect of funding or governance advice please contact VAS’ Carol Willis at carol@vas-swindon.org
The Wiltshire Community Foundation has launched a Coronavirus Response Fund to help voluntary groups across the county deal with effects of the pandemic.
Managing An Outbreak
Public Health England have released guidance for Contact centres, offices and operations rooms to help manage an outbreak of COVID-19 within your buildings. This guidance can be found using the link below.
COVID-19 early outbreak managementCOVID Secure Poster
Once you have gone through all the steps to ensure that your building/services are safe to reopen you can download a COVID Secure Poster which you can display to show you have taken all of the relevant steps to keep visitors safe. This poster will need to be signed by a representative of your organisation and should include your Health & Safety Representatives name.Returning To Work
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) have created a number of useful documents to help you decide whether your staff should be returning to work along with a guide on how to do this safely. These documents are below along with an example risk assessment:
Planning a return to work
Return to work guide
Wheels For All – Cycling Restart ProposalOpening Community Building:
ACRE advice on re-opening Village and Community Halls, advice could be transferable for others wanting to open community spaces – download their info sheet/guidance here which includes templates for risk assessments etc.Below are some example risk assessments and supporting documents which you can download to help you with your own:
Sanford House Risk Assessment
Sanford House Code of Conduct
Swindon Borough Council Individual Assessment Form
CIPD Return to Work Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment Form Wheels 4 All RestartGovernment Information on how to reopen multi purpose buildings can be found here
Reopening Services Safely:
Swindon Mind have kindly shared a copy of their risk assessment for the reopening of some of their face to face services to share with the wider sector. Please click on the following link to download a copy of the Swindon Mind Risk AssessmentRe-opening after lockdown:
Cranfield Trust – A Practical Guide to Re-Opening after Covid Closedown Webinar – this is also a link for many other of their webinars relevant at this time.
NCVO’s updated Coronavirus guidance pages can be found hereProviding Youth activities:
National Youth Agency released guidance earlier this week for local youth providers reopening up services for young people. The National Youth Agency (NYA) as the Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body for youth work in England has, in consultation with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive, developed youth sector specific advice and guidance. The guidance will support local providers, leaders, volunteers and young people to remain safe when engaging in youth sector activities. It is intended to guide the youth sector in opening up services for young people at the right pace and time.Digital:
Some useful resources – aimed at supporting digital access for those with limited experience or lack of confidence – makeitclick.learnmyway.com/directory and www.goodthingsfoundation.org/learn-my-way and www.abilitynet.org.uk/ they each approach training in different ways, but all aim to make it as simple / user-friendly as possible.There are also volunteers offering their expertise to help you, details of the help available can be found at: www.digitalboost.org.uk/
Returning to Public Fundraising:
Advice on public fundraising published on 25th June – www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/more-from-us/news/coronavirus-covid-19-fundraising-regulator-and-chartered-institute-fundraising
Managing An Outbreak
Public Health England have released guidance for Contact centres, offices and operations rooms to help manage an outbreak of COVID-19 within your buildings. This guidance can be found using the link below.
COVID-19 early outbreak managementCOVID Secure Poster
Once you have gone through all the steps to ensure that your building/services are safe to reopen you can download a COVID Secure Poster which you can display to show you have taken all of the relevant steps to keep visitors safe. This poster will need to be signed by a representative of your organisation and should include your Health & Safety Representatives name.Returning To Work
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) have created a number of useful documents to help you decide whether your staff should be returning to work along with a guide on how to do this safely. These documents are below along with an example risk assessment:
Planning a return to work
Return to work guide
Wheels For All – Cycling Restart ProposalOpening Community Building:
ACRE advice on re-opening Village and Community Halls, advice could be transferable for others wanting to open community spaces – overview here and info sheet/guidance here this includes templates for risk assessments etc.Below are some example risk assessments and supporting documents which you can download to help you with your own:
Sanford House Risk Assessment
Sanford House Code of Conduct
Swindon Borough Council Individual Assessment Form
CIPD Return to Work Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment Form Wheels 4 All RestartGovernment Information on how to reopen multi purpose buildings can be found here
Reopening Services Safely:
Swindon Mind have kindly shared a copy of their risk assessment for the reopening of some of their face to face services to share with the wider sector. Please click on the following link to download a copy of the Swindon Mind Risk AssessmentRe-opening after lockdown:
Cranfield Trust – A Practical Guide to Re-Opening after Covid Closedown Webinar – this is also a link for many other of their webinars relevant at this time.
NCVO’s updated Coronavirus guidance pages can be found hereProviding Youth activities:
National Youth Agency released guidance earlier this week for local youth providers reopening up services for young people. The National Youth Agency (NYA) as the Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body for youth work in England has, in consultation with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive, developed youth sector specific advice and guidance. The guidance will support local providers, leaders, volunteers and young people to remain safe when engaging in youth sector activities. It is intended to guide the youth sector in opening up services for young people at the right pace and time.Digital:
Some useful resources – aimed at supporting digital access for those with limited experience or lack of confidence – makeitclick.learnmyway.com/directory and www.goodthingsfoundation.org/learn-my-way and www.abilitynet.org.uk/ they each approach training in different ways, but all aim to make it as simple / user-friendly as possible.There are also volunteers offering their expertise to help you, details of the help available can be found at: www.digitalboost.org.uk/
Returning to Public Fundraising:
Advice on public fundraising published on 25th June – www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/more-from-us/news/coronavirus-covid-19-fundraising-regulator-and-chartered-institute-fundraising