COVID-19 & the Voluntary Community & Faith Sector in Greenwich
The advice about and response to Covid-19 is changing daily.
It is already impacting upon us all as citizens, and the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector has a key role to play in supporting people and communities to deal with the consequences.
We are committed to acting as the strategic voice for the sector during the coming weeks and months.
We will continue to share information and advocate for the sector – our role in supporting the voluntary, community & faith sector has never been more important.
These are extra-ordinary times, and we need to find extra-ordinary ways of cooperating with each-other. Normal tasks and duties may have to be put aside whilst the crisis lasts.
We will need to work closely with the statutory agencies that may have statutory responsibilities with specific aspects of the crisis.
The overall message is that we can respond at different levels. If we are to make the most effective use of the resources available to us, we all need to respond in a coordinated way.
Information and advice
Information will be regularly updated on the METRO GAVS website over the coming days and weeks.
For up to date advice from the NHS for individuals who are concerned about their own health, please visit: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
The consequences of Covid-19 will be broad – please keep referring to the regularly updated government advice:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance
COVID-19: residential care, supported living and home care guidance
COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses
Many of us will find ways of diverting our energies to the consequences of this crisis, from supporting our staff, many of who will be working part-time and may have caring responsibilities, to joining with the efforts of other agencies.
Major funders such as the National Lottery Community Fund have already announced that they will be showing flexibility and supporting funded organisations to re-deploy resources to respond to the pandemic.
The reality is that for many individuals, especially those on low incomes, Covid-19 is already hitting hard. Food-banks are seeing reduction in donations of food, and we could be strengthening the messages out there for everyone to resist hoarding. It is at times like this that our collective responsibilities, not just for our families, but for our neighbours and our communities come to the forefront. It is in times of crisis that third sector organisations can show their flexibility, and show what can be done.
As many of you will have picked up, Volunteer Centre Greenwich is working in partnership with Royal Borough Greenwich on coordinating the volunteer response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If your organisation needs volunteers please call 0208 317 3817/ email info@volunteersgreenwich.co.uk
At the time of writing, we have received nearly 750 volunteer signups through the online form, showing that Greenwich is really stepping up.