Coronavirus

Government funding for charities
Applications for the government’s new coronavirus community support fund opened on Friday 22 May. For more information see the funding section of our coronavirus guidance.

Our guidance and resources to support charities, voluntary organisations and volunteers during the covid-19 pandemic.

If you have any specific questions related to covid-19 please email NCVO at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

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Guidance for your organisation

Our Knowhow section on coronavirus contains information to help you decide what steps you and your organisation need to take. It covers the following topics.

Protecting your staff, volunteers and beneficiaries

• Preventing the spread of covid-19
• Protecting staff, volunteers and visitors
• Risk assessment
• Helping staff to work safely and mitigate risk
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Employees' rights and sick leave entitlements
• Events, board meetings and AGMs
• Supporting staff and volunteers to work from home
• Supporting beneficiaries/service users
• Supporting members of communities facing discrimination
• Webinars on protecting staff, volunteers and beneficiaries

Contingency planning and financial implications

• Developing a contingency plan and how your insurance will be impacted
• Immediate actions to manage your finances
• Coronavirus job retention scheme (furloughing)
• Coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS)
• Bounce back loan
• What to expect from funders
• Charity funding from the government 
• Other funding opportunities for charities
• How your investments will be impacted
• Other financial implications
• Further resources

How charities are helping

Involving volunteers

• How volunteers can make a difference
• Redirecting volunteers if you cannot take on any more
• How volunteers are affected by the lockdown
• Volunteers in key worker roles
• Coronavirus testing for volunteers
• Furlough and volunteering
• Insurance and volunteering
• Volunteer expenses
• Paying for goods or services
• Safeguarding for volunteer managers
• Safeguarding for informal volunteer-led groups
• DBS checks and volunteers
• Data protection
• Recognising and reporting scams
• Additional help finding and supporting volunteers
• Webinars on involving volunteers

Further information and resources

• Key up-to-date information from the government
• Sector-specific guidance
• Risk management
• Travel advice

Webinars

We are running a series of webinars to help organisations during the pandemic. You can view recordings of previous webinars on the Knowhow guidance pages.

Upcoming webinars

• Financial management and accessing government funding – 1 June 2020, 14.00–15.00
• Corporate insolvency and governance bill 2020 – the key implications for charities and voluntary organisations – 2 June 2020, 10.00–11.30
• Board leadership: Supporting your charity through the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic – 5 June, 11.00–12.00
• Making decisions in tough times – 11 June 2020, 14.00–14.40 – this webinar is now full, a recording will be available after the broadcast
• Building organisational resilience: Things for small charities to consider – 17 June 2020, 14.00–15.00

Previous webinars

• Governing during a pandemic: What are the key things trustees need to be focused on?
• Involving volunteers during the pandemic – what you need to know
• How to involve and safeguard volunteers during coronavirus
• Assessing health and safety risk in uncertain times
• Financial management during covid-19 – top tips and scenario planning

Further support

• We have removed the paywall from our Knowhow resources to help support charities seeking help and guidance. 
• The HR consultancy Croner, an NCVO Trusted Supplier, are specialists in HR and employment law. In response to covid-19, they are now offering unlimited access to their HR and Employment Law helpline to all voluntary sector organisations, free of charge.
• Get in touch with Bates Wells, an NCVO Trusted Supplier, who are offering a free 30 minute legal advice consultation with one of their charity specialists. 

Volunteering

We have published new guidance for people who want to help out during the pandemic. It includes which organisations to approach and tips on staying safe when supporting others.

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