VCFSE Update – Oldham Council

VCFSE Role in Covid19 Response

  • VCFSE organisations have been critical partners in Covid19 response

–Strategic leadership

–Humanitarian aid

–Adapting services to maintain provision

–Community Engagement

–Volunteer recruitment and deployment

  • Action Together have played a key role in all of this, as well as fundraising and managing the distribution of funds to the sector

–Raised funds through JustGiving and launched Covid19 Response Fund

–Distributing pooled funds from Thriving Communities, Standing Together & Housing Providers

–More than 146 organisations have been supported through Covid19 Response Fund, totalling more than £170,000

–Also supported in distribution of DEFRA Emergency Assistance Grant & Community Champions

  • However there remain challenges for the sector during this time

–Came into pandemic with low financial resilience

–Reduced opportunities to generate income

–Volunteers isolating / shielding

–Rising demand

–Some activities unable to operate, others with more demand than ever

–Emergency funding is just that – often doesn’t cover core costs

  • Used COMF funding to establish fund to support the sector in Covid19 recovery – £200k One Oldham Fund Established

–Enabling them to continue to play critical role

–Supporting sustainability of organisations in the longer-term