As the membership body for the Voluntary and Community Sector, we continue to be blown away by the fantastic levels of volunteering and neighbourhood support happening right across the Borough.

SECTOR NEWS

New Guidance and advice for the sector
Charities and voluntary organisations are understandably concerned about how they continue operating during the Coronavirus outbreak. The Charity Commission has put together their responses to the questions most commonly being asked – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector
They have also produced https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manage-financial-difficulties-in-your-charity-caused-by-coronavirus aimed at trustees of charities, particularly smaller ones, who are facing financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic.

Other Updates
A number of volunteer led community hubs continue to work tirelessly to support residents in their communities for example by doing shopping and collecting prescriptions for people who are unable to get out. Financial support is also available to the hubs and all of the details can be found on the Covid-19 tab of the BVA website. https://www.bvaction.org.uk/covid-19/

COMMUNITY LOTTERY UPDATE

At the beginning of this year we were gearing up for a May launch of the Basingstoke and Deane (BanD) Community Lottery.
Set up to support community projects in the local area, the Basingstoke Community Lottery will operate on the principle of raising money within the community for the community. It will empower local good causes to raise money in a fun and effective way.
Dozens of local charities have already signed up to take part, and we believe that when it is launched it will become a focal point for publicity for the local voluntary sector as well as a useful source of funds in a climate that may well be difficult.
Should your organisation not yet have signed up, you can register your interest https://www.bvaction.org.uk/bva-projects-and-groups/bva-community-lottery/.

HERE TO HELP YOU

If you need specific support right now then we are still available to offer assistance as we have and will continue to operate during the lockdown.
You may contact us on our normal number 01256 423816 or email contact@bvaction.org.uk
Once lockdown is over, we will be happy to arrange meetings with our Voluntary Sector Support Officers should you need our assistance or advice. 

CURRENT CAMPAIGNS
Our voluntary sector plays a truly unique role. Providing invaluable services not just through this crisis but ones that will continue to be essential as our country moves forward. Here at BVA we are taking a moment during our COVID-19 related activities to try and catch up with all of our members to see if there is anything that we can do to help support you, both during the current circumstances, and into the future, as we all come out of lockdown and the new “normality” resumes. Our findings will form the launch of the #NeverMoreNeeded campaign here in Basingstoke. Please keep an eye out for further details!

HOW WE CAN HELP

COVID Grants
If you are doing things to support the community during the COVID crisis, you may want to check out the range of grants at https://www.bvaction.org.uk/sections/featured-grants/.
Please note that we are continually amending this list as the situation develops so that you are provided with the most up-to-date information!

Volunteering
The Volunteer Centre https://www.volunteernorthhants.org/ who have been working hard to match volunteers to the Emergency Hubs, will be looking to help where organisations have problems in getting back up to strength after an extended period of little or no activity.

Community in Action
Does your group have a good news story it would like to share? Why not contact us about featuring in the Community in Action page of the Basingstoke Gazette. From more details visit https://www.bvaction.org.uk/community-in-action/.

All the best and Keep Safe!