Last updated 7th September 2020

COVID 19 response for community projects

Advice and ideas about how we, as a church, can continue to serve our communities during the Coronavirus pandemic will appear here.

Civic Society Consulting Update (05/05/2020)

A briefing from Civic Society Consulting (work with the Together Network and Near Neighbours) can be found here containing:

1. A summary of the immediate impact of Covid-19 on the charity and faith social action sectors; before moving on to look at

2. A summary of key funders’ reactions (noting as we do that most of you receive your income from Statutory, Lottery and Charitable Trust sources rather than company and individual income streams); plus a table of the latest list of funds available to help with crisis support;  some funding streams have developed their thinking on CoVID support and what they offer. Click on the link to get the latest info. 

3. Suggestions for both short and medium-term strategic and operational thinking and planning in the wake of Covid-19, including a brief appraisal of various online/remote/video tools. The document concludes with
4. A hands-on message of hope – five tips on resilience.

This publication may be revised in the coming weeks to reflect the ongoing changes - especially with regard to the response for BAME communities.

Community Foundation for Lancashire grants (15/05/2020)

As a result of the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, particularly for those most vulnerable people within our communities, the Community Foundation for Lancashire has launched the Lancashire COVID-19 Community Support Fund for community and voluntary organisations on the frontline.

Working with the UK Community Foundation (UKCF), the National Emergencies Trust (NET) and the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF), they now have funds available awarded under the following priorities:

• Foodbanks
• Food/care package delivery to vulnerable people self-isolating
• Delivery of services and projects supporting the most vulnerable, such as older people e.g. a telephone support/friendship service or delivering online activities to help reduce isolation
• Emotional and mental health wellbeing, including domestic abuse
• Financial Inclusion, support to access benefits and debt advice

These priorities will be reviewed regularly and changed/additions made as fundraising and the outbreak develops.

Who can apply?

Voluntary, community and faith organisations, registered charities, social businesses, churches, PTAs and parish/town councils. We also welcome applications from newly established groups though please note the requirements below on documentation required.

How much is available?

Grants of up to £5,000 will be available initially. This may change in further phases of the fund. If you receive a grant, we can accept subsequent applications to further phases of the fund or when additional funding is received though please note we will have to take into account previous grants to ensure we are able to support as many community organisations as possible.

How to apply?

Please click here to apply. You can attach the documents to your online application, or email them to applications@cflm.email.

Community Ministry (08/04/2020)

“Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow” Isaiah 1:17

Serving the community is one of the core parts of ministry. But how we provide such ministry must change, at least on a temporary basis, during the COVID-19 pandemic in order that we can protect the most vulnerable in our society.

Consider carefully all community ministries your church is involved with and ask if they are essential to the community you serve.  The answer will be different in different places.

If you decide that the ministry is providing an essential service and there would be considerable harm if it stopped then you must take action to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19. This should include:

• Seek and follow the advice of health officials, public health experts and other bigger organisations providing similar ministries.
• Ensure all your volunteers and paid staff are fit, should not be self-isolating and are aware of the risks they are being exposed to as well as the risk they may expose others to by providing their services.
• Thinking about different ways to provide the ministry that reduces face to face interaction such as delivering food parcels to individual doorsteps or using pre-packaged food that people can collect for themselves.
• Take immediate action to avoid groups gatheringwhich do not comply with government guidelines for your area.  For example, you may need to stagger people coming to collect food, reducing the number of volunteers working to the minimum that can safely deliver the service, whilst maintaining appropriate distance between them.

• Exploring options around working with other charities or organisations that are providing a similar service in order to provide a safe and sustainable service during the pandemic. For example Age Concern Lancashire's contact details can be found here

Please consider the following:

• Contact your local foodbank and ask them how they want your support. As it will no longer be possible to collect donated food at church services ask them how best members of congregations can support them and publicise that as wildly as you can vis social media
• Supporting the work of the parish council, schools, where they remain open, and other organisations with your prayers.

If you are unsure consult the advice given by Public Health England.

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response        

Helping people at a time of financial crisis (08/04/2020)

Practical information to share with people who need support with their finances produced by the Church Urban Fund can be found here