From 25th March Halton and St Helens VCA will be managing their work as follows:
If you need a contact for our volunteering portal and volunteering during the Covid-19 response across both Boroughs it’s Claire Redford-Kerr
If you need a contact for the Covid-19 response in St Helens it’s Annie Lawrenson alawrenson@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk
If you need a contact for the Covid-19 response in Halton it’s Matthew Roberts Mroberts@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk
You can also contact Sally Yeoman our Chief Officer for issues in both Boroughs. She will also be picking up LCR work with VS6 colleagues
For comms/website and information queries contact
Our phones will be temporarily redirected and you will be able to contact us by using our usual numbers 01744 457100 / 01928 592405
The VS6 partnership has today written to the Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, and Local Authority Leaders from the six LCR Boroughs to offer our support and solidarity in light of the recent news that the City Region has been placed into the highest Tier 3 COVID alert level. We also offered our gratitude for the recognition and support provided to the VCFSE sector throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Following an emergency meeting of the VS6 partnership earlier this week, we were also able to outline our concerns regarding the ability of the sector to respond to the predicted high increase in demand for services that are already stretched. These included:
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Organisations that have remained operational through the pandemic once again face increased demand at a time when they have experienced significant loss of income and depletion of reserves, putting many of them at risk of closing for good.
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The implementation of Tier 3 restrictions coinciding with the replacement of the furlough scheme with the less-generous job retention scheme will put the low-paid and those employed in the hospitality and arts sectors, for example, into a challenging financial situation. This will increase the demand on VCFSE services, such as those providing financial and practical support (e.g. foodbanks).
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Many VCFSE organisations in the region will be impacted by business restrictions, with many offering vital community services that will be forced to close, such as community cafes and activity centres, impacting on those dependent on that support.
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Without adequate financial support for our VCFSE organisations, we are at risk of job losses amongst the 24,000 FTE employers working in the VCFSE sector across the Liverpool City Region. This is likely to be felt considerably more within our local grassroots organisations and will impact the sector’s ability to provide much needed support to our residents.
VS6 highlighted our intention to lobby nationally for investment to support the sector in its response to the crisis and to prevent as many job losses as possible. Today, VS6 has made a request to the National Emergencies Trust for a VCFSE Response Fund for Tier 3 areas. We have suggested a £2 per capita fund for the Liverpool City Region and any other Tier 3 areas, in addition to any investment in local authorities.
We believe that if the sector is not supported with additional investment to continue to provide services now, it will result in facing higher costs to statutory services further down the line.
To read the full letter, please click on the link below:
Covid-19 press briefing 21st September 2020
Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance held a press conference to stress the importance of controlling the spread of covid-19. Thanks to our colleagues at LCR for sharing this summary from DeHavilland, click here for the summary
Click here to find out how to download the NHS Covid 19 App
Trustee Vacancies at Halton and St Helens VCA
If you're passionate about supporting #Halton & #StHelens #VCSE sector, have strategic vision, the ability to think creatively, good judgement and a willingness to speak your mind, we're looking for at least three new trustees to join our Board. We are particularly keen to hear from our members and/or anyone with a financial background. For more information about the trustee role click here.
COVID-19 INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE FOR VOLUNTARY GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS / NEW AND EXISTING VOLUNTEERS IN THE HALTON AND ST HELENS AREA
As we move into the next phase of the Covid 19 crisis we will be updating groups with helpful guidance to help you manage the transitions.
Given the update from the Prime Minister and the expectation about further guidance about how we transition back from the current arrangements for lockdown, we have produced a handy sheet for groups to use to start to plan what they might do next. If your organisation needs help or support with your plans please continue to let us know, click here to access the handy sheet for groups. Click here for the new Government Guidance on Staying Alert and Safe (Social distancing) and Click here to visit our webpage on recovery and resilience for useful guidance
Click here to find general information that will help your organisation through the Covid-19 Crisis
We will be returning to our fortnightly ebulletins from 8th July if you would like to sign up to receive a copy click here
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
National Emergencies Trust (NET)
Coronavirus Community Support Fund
Christmas Challenge 2020
Government funding to tackle loneliness
Sport England
Youth Endowment Fund COVID-19 Grant Round
Coalfields
The National Lottery Community Fund
Wargrave Big Local
Grants Online
COVID19 Funder List - a comprehensive list of resources
LCR Cares COVID-19 Community Support Fund (Click here for video on how to apply)
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire Emergency Fund
Steve Morgan Foundation
Tesco Bags of Help
CAF CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY FUND
COVID-19 Emergency Funding & Resource Hub for Charities & Social
What support do you need to support local people during the COVID-19 crisis in Halton and St Helens?
We are currently collecting information on emergency support required by our voluntary and community sector members, please could you visit our webform to submit your response
If you live in Halton and St Helens and need some support please click on the links below for more information
- Power in Partnership (PIP)
- Guide Dogs
- Sahir House
- Vision Support
- RASASC
- CHAPS
- Halton Libraries
- Halton Dementia Care Advisor Service
- Hope Cafe
- British Red Cross
- Stroke Association
- NIghtstop Communities Northwest
- Halton Disability Partnership (updated 22nd July 2020)
- Wellbeing Enterprises CIC
- Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support Group
- Halton Carers Centre
- Halton Womens Centre
- Halton Table Tennis
- Citizens Advice Halton
- Age UK Mid Mersey
- Healthwatch Halton
- UC Crew
- St Helens and District Diabetes Group
- Guide Dogs
- Mamafit and Mums SOCIAL
- Footsteps St Helens
- Sahir House
- Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation
- Wellbeing Enterprises CIC
- St Helens Mind
- Citizens Advice St Helens
- Clear Futures Communities
- Age UK Mid Mersey
- Healthwatch St Helens
