Loneliness Awareness Week (15th to 19th June) is highlighting one of the great social scourges of our modern society. Community Action Norfolk is at the forefront of combating social isolation across our county, with a range of projects encouraging and enabling individuals to become involved in activities in their local communities.
One of the strengths of the voluntary sector is the way it adapts and transforms to stay relevant and engaging. Keeping your service users or clients informed and engaged is crucial, and never more so than in a time of change. For all VCSE organisations whose main activity is direct delivery to service users a major concern is maintaining contact with, and support to, their vulnerable clients.
CAN is hosting two Zoom webinars to discuss the practical issues to consider when returning to offices and other working environments. The first, this Friday, 12th June, is aimed at voluntary organisations and community groups based and operating in West Norfolk. The webinar will be repeated on Monday 15th June for organisations in North Norfolk.
This week (Monday 1st to Sunday 7th June) is Volunteers’ Week (link). celebrating the time, skills, experience and goodwill given by people up and down the UK.
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.
Dealing with bereavement is never easy. It’s even harder during this difficult period, with separation from loved ones at the most crucial time. Norfolk County Council, together with the Working Together partnership, is offering a 30-minute wellbeing telephone support call to anyone registering a death.
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!
The Charity Commission is offering guidance on running your charity during the Coronavirus pandemic, with useful information about meetings, postponing AGMs, using reserves and keeping people safe.
CAN is an member of the national ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) network. ACRE is very active at national level in helping formulate government strategies for supporting community groups. Right now ACRE is working with other national charities to help Government get to grips with the impact of Covid-19 on rural people and community organisations throughout England.