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.

Supporting staff, volunteers and beneficiaries and keeping safe

• Preventing and social distancing
• Risk assessment
• Returning to work safely
• Continuing your operation
• Cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Supporting beneficiaries/service users
• Supporting staff and volunteers to work from home
• Employees' rights and sick leave entitlements
• Annual leave and furlough
• Supporting members of communities facing discrimination
• Taking an inclusive approach
• Guidance for trustees
• Webinars on supporting staff, volunteers and beneficiaries and keeping safe

Contingency planning and financial implications

• Developing a contingency plan and your insurance 
• Financial management and solvency
• Consider merger and collaboration
• Coronavirus job retention scheme (furloughing)
• Coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS)
• Bounce back loan
• Charity funding from government
• Other funding opportunities for charities
• Webinars on contingency planning and finance

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
• Volunteering if showing symptoms or clinically vulnerable
• 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

Details of upcoming webinars will appear here. For more informaiton see our training page.

Previous webinars

• Volunteering in a pandemic: Lessons from volunteering organisations
• UK Civil Society Almanac 2020: What the latest data tells us about charities' challenges now and in the future
• Easing of lockdown – practical considerations for managing and supporting staff
• Board leadership: Supporting your charity through the next phase of the coronavirus pandemic
• Financial management and accessing government funding 
• Financial management during covid-19 – top tips and scenario planning
• Assessing health and safety risk in uncertain times
• How to involve and safeguard volunteers during coronavirus
• Involving volunteers during the pandemic – what you need to know
• Governing during a pandemic: What are the key things trustees need to be focused on?

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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