Resources to help you respond to Covid-19

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Useful Guidance

 

  • The government has recently (13 Nov) published NEW guidance on enabling safe and effective volunteering during coronavirus

  • NDVS has produced some useful guidance documents on Re-engaging Community Space, Collecting Prescriptions, Telephone Befriending and Handling Money Safely (a guide for people who are using community help for shopping, collecting prescriptions etc.) Please always compare against the very latest government guidance to check you are compliant with the current guidelines

  • As we move away from the second lockdown phase, you might also find 'Moving on from Crisis Response' useful to help you think about what changes you may begin to make and how to plan for the weeks and months ahead

  • NCVO KnowHow has comprehensive guidance related to the current situation covering advice on managing and safeguarding volunteers, how to protect your staff and the people you are working with and contingency planning for your organisation

  • If you are using volunteers to help deliver or enhance your services right now, it's important to do a quick review of your volunteering policies and processes. You don't need to start from scratch - you can use the DeVA Volunteering Health Check guidance and there is lots of info right here on our Fact Sheets pages. We are also here for you if you need any help.

  • If you are looking for useful training for your volunteers, British Red Cross has developed Coronavirus Training to help people volunteer safely

  • Check out DeVA's short animations on 'Supporting Volunteering', 'Volunteer Advice', 'Telephone Befriending' and 'Safeguarding (Please note these were created before current restrictions were in place so volunteers need to make sure they follow the most up-to-date guidelines regarding social distancing etc)

  • There are two short on-line videos which volunteers might find useful on creating positive change through Making Every Contact Count (MECC) and MECC (The Training Tree)

  • Wiser£money have produced a list of useful money-saving and debt advice links for North Devon

  • To support people in self-isolation, several supermarkets are now offering pre-payment shopping or gift cards to assist people who need to use volunteers to do their shopping for them. Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons are among these. There may also be other small businesses offering similar schemes.

  • The Information Commissioner has published information on Data Protection and Covid-19 for community groups that are being set up, or already exist.

  • Ladbrook insurance company has developed guidance regarding insurance considerations for community groups during the coronavirus crisis

  • Stagecoach is encouraging passengers who are unable to wear a face covering due to a health condition or a disability to apply for new ‘face covering journey assistance cards’. Passengers can show the assistance cards to drivers when boarding to confirm they are exempt from the legislation. There is also a special card available if a passenger needs the driver to lower their face covering because they are hearing impaired and need to lip read.

  • Devon County Council is updating its Community Support Groups page to try and capture all the voluntary activity which is taking place. You can also add info about what your group is doing

  • Safeguarding Advice for Devon volunteers has just been updated by the Devon Adults Safeguarding Board

  • Help raise awareness of scams In particular, the NHS Test and Trace service which will absolutely not ask for bank details or payments, details of any other accounts, such as social media, ask anyone to set up a password or PIN number over the phone or ask anyone to call a premium rate number eg starting 09 or 087. Text messages will come from NHS tracing. Calls will come from 0300 0135000. People will be asked to sign in to the NHS Test and Trace contact tracing website.
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    Wellbeing Support

     
  • Remember to look after yourself. Our Frontline is a partnership between leading mental health charities offering round-the-clock mental health support to key workers responding to the Covid-19 crisis. Get in touch with them if you are working on the frontline and feel you need someone to talk to

  • DeVA has produced a useful guide on 'Remote Working and Staff Wellbeing' to help you support your staff working from home.

  • Bereavement Support in North Devon Cruse Bereavement Care, Marie Curie, North Devon Hospice, Families in Grief and Northern Devon Healthcare Trust have worked together to produce a 'Together Across North Devon' leaflet to promote the support available to local families who may be bereaved as a result of Covid-19.

  • Devon Carers is there to support the many unpaid carers in Devon who are struggling. The new Carers Break Fund is also aimed at carers and can help towards a variety of activities or items that will provide someone with a break from their caring role

  • Talkworks is the free, confidential, NHS talking therapy service for adults in Devon (excluding Plymouth), giving you the tools and techniques to improve your mental and physical wellbeing. The Talkworks website also features advice on coping with anxiety during the coronavirus outbreak

    The I need help now section on the DPT (Devon Partnership Trust) website includes important emergency contact details

  • The Moorings @ Devon provides out-of-hours mental health support (6pm-midnight) to anyone aged 16+ in the Devon area, from three locations in Barnstaple, Exeter, and Torquay: The service is there for anyone feeling distressed, frightened, overwhelmed, or that things are too much for them.

  • The downloadable Letter of Hope leaflet has been written by a group of people from Devon who want to offer help and hope to anyone thinking about suicide. It includes a 3-step plan of support and a list of organisations that can offer help.

  • MIND has online resources to support people who are feeling anxious or stressed and need some help to cope at the moment

  • Tips and advice for helping people stay connected are available on the Campaign to End Loneliness website

  • Young Devon Wellbeing Toolkit to help young people maintain positive mental health during lockdown

  • Positive People aims to support people who are out of work to build confidence, skills and give a sense of hope. The team in Devon offers a weekly online job club every Wednesday via Zoom to support with online job searching, updating and creating a CV and managing a CV. There is also a useful presentation on 'Manging Yourself and Covid-19 Stress'

  • Devon Recovery Learning Community (DRLC) provides a huge range of free courses and online learning opportunities to promote mental health and wellbeing. Students are people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, their family and friends and the professionals who support them

  • Recovery College Online also has a range of over 30 free online mental health and wellbeing courses and resource

    • Food and Financial Support for Families in Need

     
    The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is continuing to put a huge financial strain on some people. If you know someone who is worrying about money and how to pay for basic household essentials, please encourage them to apply for extra assistance through funding made available by Devon County Council via North Devon Council's Hardship Fund.

    To find out more about what other support is available including how to access local financial support, healthy start vouchers and free school meals, where to find foodbanks and community larders, free meals during the school holidays and what to do if you’re on a low income and need to self-isolate, please visit Devon County Council’s website.

    Funding

     
    Here are just some of the sources of funding you might find useful. Please contact us and we would be happy to provide advice and help you apply

  • DCC Covid-19 Prompt Action Fund (*closed on 5 March 21)

  • Devon Community Foundation

  • Charities Aid Foundation

    • Sources of Information

     
    Keep up to date with the very latest official guidance and please encourage the people you are working with to use these sites as their source of info:

  • Government update - See Can and Can't dos and Social distancing

  • NHS Update

  • Public Health England

  • Charity Commission

  • Devon County Council

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