CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) : Guidance for Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprise (VCSE) and Faith organisations

Thrive Trafford has a contingency plan to reduce risks to our staff and visitors and to mitigate the possible impacts on our work. We advise all VCSE organisations to do the same.

For more information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Trafford Council please visit: https://www.trafford.gov.uk/Engagement/Covid-19/Coronavirus-COVID-19-updates-and-advice.aspx

COVID-19 case numbers are rising rapidly across the whole of the UK and in other countries. We must act now to control the spread of the virus. The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives.

When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection. That is why, from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December, the Government is taking the following action:
1. Requiring people to stay at home, except for specific purposes.
2. Preventing gathering with people you do not live with, except for specific purposes.
3. Closing certain businesses and venues.

These new measures have been carefully judged to achieve the maximum reduction in growth in the number of cases, preventing the NHS from being overwhelmed, whilst ensuring that schools, colleges and universities stay open and that as many people as possible continue to work.

Until Thursday 5 November, the relevant Local Covid Alert Level measures will continue to apply in the area where you live. From Thursday the national restrictions replace the local restrictions in your area. No new areas will move in the LCAL Very High restrictions between now and Thursday.

The new measures will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December. At the end of the period, we will look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data.
For more details https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

PPE Guidance - Trafford Council's Public Health Team's 'A Guide to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the Voluntary Sector' please VCS - PPE guidance.

VCSE PPE Requests - We realise that a lot of VCSEs are looking to open up their services and buildings to start to resume activities and service delivery. VCSE groups and organisations in Trafford have been contacted about the support they need in regards to the provision of emergency PPE (personal protective equipment).

With this is mind, we would like to hear your plans for re-opening – what activity/ies will you be doing? How will you be safeguarding? If you think you will need PPE for running your activities or service delivery, please download and complete the VCSE PPE Request Form Sept and email to anna.jones@trafford.gov.uk. It’s worth noting, in the majority of cases, social distancing and handwashing will provide adequate protection, without the need for PPE.

PPE is currently being provided by The Mutual Aid Hub to VCSE groups that can’t access their own supplies, are low on supplies or at risk of running out. We recommend that groups look into long term solutions to provide their own PPE to ensure that The Hub can continue to support essential health and social care services.

Thrive Trafford in partnership with Trafford Public Health Team ran a VCSE PPE and Health & Safety Q&A Session in July 2020.
To read the FAQs paper following the session Click Here.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Government guidance for Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise Organisations.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-guidance-for-voluntary-community-and-social-enterprise-organisations

Covid-19 Advice for small charities
If you're a small charity take a look at Small Charities Coalition's useful special briefing on Coronavirus.

It covers what to do to help stop viruses like Coronavirus spreading and has useful prompts of things to consider for your organisation and to support the people you work with.

Advice from NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Action)
NCVO have compiled advice for voluntary organisations for SUPPORTING STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND BENEFICIARIES AND KEEPING SAFE – Information, Advice and Guidance includes:

Prevention and social distancing
Risk assessment
Returning to work safely
Continuing your operation
Cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures
Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Supporting beneficiaries/service users
Supporting staff and volunteers to work from home
Employees rights and sick leave entitlement
Supporting members of the community facing discrimination
Taking an inclusive approach to covid-19
Guidance for trustees Webinars on protecting staff, volunteers and beneficiaries

For full details on these areas please visit: https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/coronavirus/supporting-your-staff-volunteers-and-beneficiaries-and-keeping-safe