Emergencies Leadership Group updates and progress following their latest meeting on 2 April 2020.

Many voluntary organisations are helping out with the impact of the coronavirus but are they restricted by their own governing document from doing so? 

The Charity Commission's guidance now includes important advice on charity finance, safeguarding, charitable purposes, fundraising, data protection, annual reporting, charity meetings and charity registration. 

Below is a summary of available sources of government financial support available to sector organisations in Northern Ireland to address the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis.  We will update this list as things develop.  

NICVA's recent survey demonstrated Covid-19's negative impacts on fundraising.  So, we want to help you access all the funders you can, not just new Covid-19 related grants, but also grants for your work after the pandemic.

The Coronavirus Act 2020 introduces a measure known as Emergency Volunteering Leave to assist the Health and Social Care system in response to the outbreak of coronavirus.

In this time of national crisis, CAF has launched this rapid response Fund to help smaller charitable organisations affected by the impact of COVID 19.

Volunteer NOW has partnered with us to deliver this essential learning on how to put best practice in place for involving volunteers safely in such challenging times. Covid-19 has highlighted across the world how important volunteering is. Volunteers are bringing amazing support to those 'most at risk' in our communities and more and more people are stepping up in terms of getting involved and offering help. However we need to ensure safe methods and systems to protect everyone.

On 26 March 2020 HMRC published helpful and detailed guidance about claiming wages through their Job Retention Scheme and the Labour Relations Agency has developed a template letter for employers to use for furloughed workers.