NW Department for Work and Pensions Coronavirus Update
Headline statistics: 27% of the workforce had been furloughed across 6,150 businesses, the highest incidences of furloughing were in the accommodation and food service activities sector industry (40%) and construction (32%) industries, over 95% of firms that had furloughed anyone were interested in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Latest information and resources:
Job Help and Employer Help offer labour market information for people looking for work now, and advice for employers to help recruit them.
New free online toolkit to boost workplace skills
The Skills Toolkit hosted on the gov.uk website, is a new online learning site that has been launched today (28 April) by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. The new platform gives people access to free, high-quality digital and numeracy courses to help build up their skills, progress in work and boost their job prospects.
New guidance for Social Landlords on essential moves
Mandatory Reconsiderations - Customers who wish to challenge or dispute a benefit decision can find information on how to do this on gov.uk
Guidance for people with disabilities and health conditions on how to get help with benefits if you have accessibility needs
A new triage tool has been developed to support citizens if they feel they are struggling due to Coronavirus. It covers a range of circumstances including feeling unsafe, going in to work, paying bills or being unemployed, getting food, having somewhere to live and mental health and wellbeing. Users will not get direct support from the government or organisations through this service but will get contact details for services who can help.
Information for the Bereaved Coronavirus Leaflet shares important information to help bereaved families, friends or next of kin make important decisions during this national emergency and explains the next steps, answers some of your questions, and guides you to the extra help and support that is available.
Looking after your health and wellbeing, 6 May 11.30-12.00
Recruiting and retaining disabled people, 13 May, 11.30-12.00
Support for Domestic Abuse Victims: 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline number – 0808 2000 247 – run by Refuge and www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Impact of the Pandemic – the Office of National Statistics has produced several sets of data
GM VCSE Leadership Group Statement
The Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group, for which VSNW Chief Executive Warren Escadale is the Independent Chair, have issued a statement relating to Covid-19 and the VCSE sector in Greater Manchester.
In addition it has also produced a COVID Response update/assessment document highlighting the action taken so far by the Leadership group on behalf of the sector during the current crisis, and the further steps it will be taking in the coming weeks and months.
Both documents can be accessed below.
Click here to download the GM VCSE Leadership Group Statement.
Click here to download the COVID Response update/assessment document.
You can find out more about the work of the Group by visiting their website: www.vcseleadershipgm.org.uk
Resources for VCSE Groups during Coronavirus
We all know that the way we work and provide services is likely to change for the foreseeable future. More services will be delivered online or by telephone, whilst remote working will mean more meetings will take place virtually. This is a significant change for many people and will require a period of adjustment.
Meanwhile we are seeing an upsurge in community volunteering, ranging from informal offers of support organised through Facebook groups, to Local Authority organised schemes. This is likely to increase as people come to terms with potentially being unable to work for weeks or even months.
Whilst this type of community-action is to be welcomed, it also brings with it challenges relating to safeguarding and management.
The following videos provide a brief guide on several issues which you may need to consider when volunteering or taking on volunteers.
Firstly, learn about safeguarding and how to make sure vulnerable service users are protected, along with those volunteering themselves, here.
Tips for volunteers and how to keep themselves and others safe can be found here.
Information on telephone befriending, how to set boundaries and make this work for both volunteers and services users is available here.
Advice for organisations about taking on and supporting volunteers can be found here.
Finally, a guide for organisations using video conferencing for the first time can be found here.
Let’s change the conversation around mental wellbeing across Greater Manchester
Tameside Oldham and Glossop Mind are hosting an engagement event about mental wellbeing. Please join to find out more about GM’s Connect 5 workforce training offer and Living Life To The Full self-help resources for the GM population.
Who is this event for?
Public sector commissioners, VCSE training providers and VCSE organisations who wish to train their service in C5.
Event Details
When: Thursday 12th March
Where: King’s House Conference Centre, King’s Church, Sidney Street, Manchester M1 7HB
What time: 13:00 - 16:30pm. Join us for lunch from 1pm.
Cancer Champions Training
Cancer Champions are invited to attend our exciting free training workshop!
Answer Cancer is a Voluntary Community & Social Enterprise sector-led response to cancer in Greater Manchester. It is the working name of the Greater Manchester Cancer Screening Engagement Programme, a Voluntary Sector partnership working to improve cancer awareness across the region.
What: The Whole Works - Cancer Champion Training Session
This training session aims to increase people’s knowledge and understanding of cancer, the importance of cancer screening and how screening protects and saves thousands of lives each year. This training will equip people with the skills to promote positive health messages about cancer screening that they can share with family, friends and the wider community. This training is a 2-and-a-half-hour interactive session incorporating all three screening programmes.
Who: We particularly want to involve Voluntary Sector Organisations, current Cancer Champions and people wanting to become new Cancer Champions and promote positive cancer awareness messages.
When: Session dates are as follows – please book via the links provided:
St Sebastian’s Community Centre, Salford - Tues 25th Feb 9:30am – 12:30pm
Bolton Hub, Bolton - Friday 28th Feb 9:30am – 12:30pm
GMCVO St Thomas Centre, Manchester - Monday 2nd March 9:30am-12:30pm
Action Together, Oldham - Weds 4th March 9:30am-12:30pm
Registration is from 9:30am – training will start at 10am prompt.
Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group launches Policy Position Paper
The Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group which seeks to promote the role and involvement of the VCSE sector and communities in devolution, has today launched it’s first Policy Position Paper. This document sets out the Group’s vision for the next 10 years and has been written to complement public sector policy development in Greater Manchester. It describes the role and potential contribution of the VCSE sector as a positive force as part of the ‘system’ which will strive for change and improvement in the future of Greater Manchester.
You can read the full Policy Position Paper here.
Comprising individuals from eighteen voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations from across Greater Manchester the Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group aims to be the sector’s voice in devolution. It originated as a formal part of the health and social care devolution architecture and works closely with Alex Whinnom, CEO of GMCVO, who represents the sector on the new Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Strategic Partnership Board and is a member of the Group.
For more information on the VCSE Leadership Group and how you can get involved, please see: www.vcseleadershipgm.org.uk
Answer Cancer Training Workshops
Cancer Champions & voluntary sector organisations are invited to attend exciting new training/workshops to increase your community development skills.
Answer Cancer is a Voluntary Community & Social Enterprise sector-led response to cancer in Greater Manchester. It is the working name of the Greater Manchester Cancer Screening Engagement Programme, a Voluntary Sector partnership working to improve cancer awareness across the region.
What: Two training sessions running consecutively after each other as follows:
1. Creative Approaches to Community engagement:
This short session aims to equip groups and individuals with practical skills and tips to increase audience participation when carrying out engagements within the wider community. The session covers:
Creative planning: Mobilising, tailoring and adapting existing resources: Using various creative approaches for successful effective engagement: Make community engagements fun!!
2. Community Researcher Training:
How do you know your activities are making a difference? How do you know 'what works?' How do you share your success with others and draw in more resource? Evaluation is Key!! This short course will equip you with the confidence, skills and knowledge to answer these questions.
Although both sessions firmly focus on cancer awareness, screening and prevention, they can be used across a wealth of health and wellbeing activity and help with all your group's activities.
Who: We particularly want to involve Voluntary Sector organisations, new and current Cancer Champions.
When: Session dates are as follows – please book via the links provided:
Bolton Hub Tues 21st January 9:30–12:30pm -
GMCVO St Thomas Centre Thurs 23rd January - 9:30-12:30pm - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creative-ways-to-community-engagement-community-researcher-training-23rd-january-tickets-86217002375
Salford CVS Training Room Tues 28th January 9:30 – 12:30pm - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creative-ways-to-community-engagement-community-researcher-training-28th-january-tickets-86216340395
Due to funding limitations both sessions will be delivered in English only.
If you would like any more information, please contact Elizabeth O’Connor, Training & Development Worker, at: elizabeth.oconnor2@uni.uk.net
.
Get Greater Manchester Walking Grants
GMCVO have launched the second stage of a grants programme to get Greater Manchester Walking.
Funded by Greater Manchester Moving (with money from Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership), grants between £1,000 and £5,000 are being offered to support activities that encourage people who are usually less active to start or increase the amount they walk regularly. Applications should also address one or more of the following:
Support individuals not in work, with long term health conditions or young people;
Engage with communities, schools and businesses to encourage walking as part of the daily routine;
Work with communities to understand key walking destinations, routes and local barriers and solutions to get people walking;
Increase the number of trained and confident “Walking Champions” who are active in the community;
Make environmental changes/improvements that will encourage walking.
The grants will be awarded to voluntary and community groups and social enterprises operating in Greater Manchester for the benefit of Greater Manchester residentsand can be used to pay for equipment and capital projects, travel expenses, training, additional staff-time and facilitators.
Deadline for applications is 5pm on 24th February 2020.
To find out more about the grants programme, to check eligibility and to apply for a grant, please visit GMCVO’s website here.
To find out more about the wider GM Walking initiative, visit the GM Walking website here.
Grants to Get Greater Manchester Walking
GMCVO have launched a grants programme to get Greater Manchester Walking.
Funded by Greater Manchester Moving (with money from Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership), a total of £225,000 will be given out between now and August 2020.
The grants will be awarded in stages to voluntary and community groups and social enterprises with creative ideas to get more people in Greater Manchester walking (although for traditional walking groups can be funded too). The money can be used for a variety of purposes including training and support, creative activities, events or environmental changes/improvements.
The first stage, a rolling small grants programme is now live. Grants between £50 and £1000 will be awarded on an ongoing basis between now and June 2020 with decisions usually made within 3 weeks.
To find out more about the grants programme, and to apply for a small grant, please visit the website here.
To find out more about the wider GM Walking initiative, visit the GM Walking website here.