Planning, doing and learning

Over the weekend of the 14th March 2020, we saw several hundred Norfolk communities create new Mutual Aid Groups in response to the pandemic's effect on their communities.

This was our community spirit at its best. A process of forming groups that would normally take several months was accelerated into days. People were coming forward to help, who had never volunteered before. Whatever the legacy of the practical support that was delivered, the simple truth is “you can’t un-meet your neighbour” and this is hugely positive for our communities.

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.  

Further to our article last month about Trustees’ Week here, we are taking a look at the Charity Commission’s new ‘5 minute’ guidelines.