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Funding & additional financial support
Department for Communities Funding
There have been a number of financial mitigation packages announced by DfC in recent weeks, the latest of which is the COVID Social Enterprise Fund. This fund “is aimed at covering losses and supporting liquidity to 30 September 2020, and building resilience for the future for social enterprises who meet the criteria.”
As yet there are no details regarding either the deadline or criteria but we will report them here as we get them.
Read more from the DfC website
The Social Enterprise Fund is additional to the £10.8 million to be made available in October for salaries and running costs, and the £3.2m for community support, access to food and financial wellbeing.
Charities Fund
The Charities Fund continues to be available for charities that have exhausted all other avenues of support and are facing imminent closure.
It will provide financial support to charities that are unable to cover unavoidable costs until September 30th 2020.
For more information, check the DfC website
Communications
We can also be contacted on Twitter @devtrustsni
Webinars & Online Meetings
Risk Assessment – Returning to Work Safely
NICVA is hosting a series of webinars about the practical steps employers should take to keep workplaces and facilities safe for staff and service users.
There are several slots available but each webinar is restricted to 25 participants so be quick!
Registration details here
Facebook
A new private DTNI Member Facebook group has been created as a forum where we can share ideas, links to resources, or just have a chat. For our part, we will keep you posted with relevant news from the sector and share the emerging practice from our sister networks in England, Scotland & Wales.
Join the DTNI Member Facebook Group
NICVA Community Hub
NICVA has set up a community information hub at the Community NI website where you can find out how to get help in every council area. The resource is intended to be a centralised source for all services across NI.
The reliability of the hub will depend on the quality of information it is populated with, so it’s important that the entire community sector is aware of it and feeds into it, and we would recommend that DTNI members do likewise.
Follow the link https://www.nicva.org/article/share-your-covid-19-support-service-information to add your contribution. You will be able to amend any information at any time. If a particular service ceases, please remember to remove the listing from the website.
Susan Glass from NICVA has also offered to help you complete the form or, if necessary, complete it for you. You can contact Susan on 028 9087 7777 (ext 217).
Information for Employers
Human Resources
This week’s HR update includes:
Download the latest HR update here
If there are specific issues for you, your colleagues or board that you wish to discuss, please get in touch with DTNI and we will endeavour to support you directly. If you need detailed HR support, we will coordinate your query and link you in with BridgeHR.
Returning Safely to Work
Following an enquiry from one of our members we have reached out to our sister networks in GB for practical guidance that is being implemented there.
DTA Wales shared this detailed guide to reopening a community facility from Glamorgan Voluntary Services.
This is a COVID-19 risk assessment proforma forwarded by Bridge HR Consultants.
And this is the reopening guidance provided by Locality for its members.
Also, the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health has a tonne of free resources regarding Covid-19 and returning to work safely.
Visit the IOSH website to check them out
Other Information
Money Advice Service
Redundancy consultation periods are sensitive in nature as employers adhere to employment law practices and workers await the outcome. After the consultation period, it is important to provide your staff with support tailored to their individual needs.
The Money Advice Service offers free, impartial and confidential money matter advice and can provide resources to support your staff prior to leaving the organisation. This includes:
For details of these and much more besides visit the Money Advice Service website.
Other services can be tailormade for your business needs by contacting Partnership Manager Margaret McCloskey: Margaret.McCloskey@maps.org.uk; 07766775753.