COVID-19/Coronavirus support for charities

This page is your place for updates on how your charity might be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and the support you can access during this time.

How VAL can support you

During the COVID-19 outbreak we will maintain business as usual with support for the sector for as long as is practically possible.

Our team will be on hand to offer support around keeping your organisation running during the Coronavirus pandemic, how you can recruit and manage volunteers to deliver vital services in your local community and anything else you might need to know.

You can access this support in three ways:

During this period we would ask you to be patient when waiting for a reply. We will continue to issue regular updates on this website, via our newsletters and on social media.

Webinars

  • Gamcare: An Introduction to Young People & Problem Gambling Workshop webinar- various dates

    This workshop is for Professionals Who Work With and Support Young People Aged 11-19 years.

    GamCare, is a charity who supports those affected by gambling. They offer an introductory free workshop for professionals who support young people to gain useful knowledge and practical skills to apply in their youth-facing roles.Book your place here. In addition you can book as a team if there’s at least 3-5 members of staff working for the same organisation. Contact: emma.klein@aquarius.org.uk or by phone 07789 945 190.

  • VCSEs: Winning Central Government Contracts and the New Social Value Model webinars

    Wednesday 20 January 2021, 3 February & 17 March – 2pm to 4pm
    The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have organised the webinar.

    The event is aimed at VCSE organisations interested in finding out more about the new Social Value model and the opportunities it brings to the sector. You will also find out more about the Central Government bidding process including Contracts Finder, the Public Procurement Review Service and Consortia Bidding. However this event will not cover local government bidding/contracting.

    To book on one of these free events, click here.

    The new social value model will mean more opportunities for SMEs and social enterprises to win Government contracts by demonstrating the full extent of the value they would generate. Value for money will still be paramount, but a bidder’s social value score will be incorporated into the assessment of contracts.

    Government departments will use the social value model to assess and score suppliers on the wider positive benefits they bring by delivering the contract. This will mean that value for money for the taxpayer can be maximised while also building a more resilient and diverse supplier base.

    The social value model which departments will assess contracts on includes:

    • Supporting COVID-19 recovery, including helping local communities manage and recover from the impact of COVID
    • Tackling economic inequality, including creating new businesses, jobs and skills, as well as increasing supply chain resilience
    • Fighting climate change and reducing waste
    • Driving equal opportunity, including reducing the disability employment gap and tackling workforce inequality Improving health and wellbeing and community integration

    To find out more about the new social value model read Social Value UK’s blog titled New Government measures to deliver value to society through public procurement written in September 2020.

    The blog can be accessed here.

  • County Lines: How do we tackle the issues and support young people webinar - 3/2

    Wednesday 3 February 1pm to 2pm
    The webinar will cover: How criminal gangs target and exploit young people, What the national picture is, The actions being taken locally to tackle and prevent and How we can #BuildBackBetter as we transition out of lockdown.
    To attend the free webinar book here.

Access resources

General guidance for charities

Advice and guidelines from national bodies, the public sector and government.

Read more

Funding

Updates on funding that may be available to charities and community groups during the pandemic.

Read more

Managing and protecting your staff

Resources that will help you to manage your staff during the pandemic and ensure that they are protected.

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Volunteers and volunteering

Advice and guidance on good practice for recruiting and managing volunteers, as well as for volunteers themselves.

Read more

Local services available in the county

We have a list of organisations, both private and voluntary, who are offering services in Leicester city during the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic.

Read more

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