It’s now been twelve months since the pandemic hit. As people needed more help and support the local voluntary community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector responded rapidly and in diverse ways. Overnight the creation of hundreds of community responses alongside huge efforts by established organisations to adapt what they do to meet the changing needs of their community. People innovated, people coordinated, but most of all people went above and beyond to help.
This covers a vast range of activity but as examples we estimate:
Unpaid carers are one of the priority groups that Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group is working to vaccinate now. The CCG asks all of us for help in finding these unregistered carers to ensure they can be offered help and support when and where needed.
The impact of Covid has raised implications for banking services provided to VCSE groups and organisations. Nationally it appears that tighter banking restrictions coupled with a sustained period of financial inactivity due to the pandemic has led to a change in banking practice in relation to charity banking services.
The fourth Love West Norfolk day will be marked on Sunday 14th February – and this year, it’s an opportunity for everyone in the area to say: ‘thanks west Norfolk’.
With the new lockdown, even more people will be having to stay at home and turn on their heating – if they can afford to. Now more than ever it’s important to raise awareness to vulnerable consumers of how to stay warm, how to use less energy, and how to pay less. Are your staff and volunteers aware of the support available? CAN is offering free 90-minute online training to help people provide support and information where needed.
Many mutual aid groups and Good Neighbour Schemes are even more active in the final run-up to Christmas. Just one example is Thorpe Helping Hands, operating across south-east Norwich.
Every VCSE organisation has a duty to safeguard volunteers, staff members, participants and donors, and to have appropriate and proportionate policies and procedures in place. Likewise, staff and volunteers themselves need to aware be aware of their individual responsibilities to themselves and to their clients, service users and hirers.
Our CANConnect service, working in partnership with Future Projects, operates throughout the former North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group area. CANConnect has worked regularly with Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Aylsham in offering social events aimed at bringing together people from across the area who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation.