Citizens Advice Diss, Thetford and District has adapted its services during the pandemic to maintain public access to its advice and support. Caroline Mackinson, Project Coordinator, explains, preceded by a brief retrospective of how much the national network is valued.
Here at CAN we deliver a wide and varied range of support for communities across the county. One particular activity is ThinkingFuel, our well-established community heating oil buying scheme. And we'd like to ask your help in raising awareness of it as a benefit in rural, off-gas communities.
A report from the New Local Government Network (NLGN) states that a huge proportion of vulnerable people needing help during the pandemic has been directly supported by the proliferation of thousands of the spontaneous, voluntary Mutual Aid groups that have emerged.
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.
CAN has joined with other prominent public and voluntary sector agencies from across Norfolk to warn residents to be extra vigilant of new and existing scams during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now’s the time to buy your heating oil. Prices are at a four-year low and you can get a really good price from CAN's community oil buying scheme ThinkingFuel.
CAN’s long-standing network of Good Neighbour Schemes across Norfolk was well-placed to mobilise its members to respond quickly to local need = and the past few weeks have seen the Schemes welcome many new volunteers join in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
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.
Amidst the real concerns, dangers and fears of the Coronavirus crisis, some wonderful stories of community support responses across Norfolk have emerged.
We would appreciate your help in completing two key surveys, one or both of which may be relevant to your work scenario:
One survey helps us assess how the county’s voluntary, community and social enetrprise groups and organsiations are coping. The other is aimed specifically at community buildings and village halls.