At CAN we’ve seen the spectrum of community groups forming in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, seeking to help their vulnerable and isolated residents. We have, and are, helping many of them with safeguarding, insurance and legal advice and volunteer management, under the auspices of our existing Good Neighbour scheme network.
There are some inspiring examples of communities coming together during the Coronavirus pandemic, and one south Norfolk town has shown how it can be done.
We know that many voluntary and community groups are experiencing severe operating constraints currently, not least the inability to engage directly with clients and service users. One of the great characteristics of the VCSE sector, however, is the ability to adapt and improvise to meet the need.
Working from home under lockdown has become the ‘new normal’ for many voluntary and community organisations. Many of us are now learning to meet via video-link, and it brings new challenges in running an effective meeting!
‘Trust matters.’ The first two words in the introduction to the Charity Commission’s report ‘Trust in Charities’. In the light of the emergence of corruption and scandal in some large national and international charities, many managers and staff in the third sector are rightly concerned about how the public views them and the way they work.
The Rural Coalition is calling on prospective Parliamentary Candidates and their political parties to commit to delivering fairer funding for rural areas following the election on 12 December.
Community Action Norfolk leads the way with Social Prescribing - we were honoured to be shortlisted for Best Local Project at the inaugural international Social Prescribing awards in July this year. Working with a number of partner agencies, results so far are very encouraging.
Social Prescribing is a way of GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals referring people to a range of non-clinical services. People’s health is determined by a range of social, economic and environmental factors and social prescribing supports individuals in taking greater control of their own health.
The government has responded less than positively to many of the well-reasoned recommendations made in the House of Lords’ recent report on rural strategies, according to national charity Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).