Planning for local lockdowns
Members will be aware of the local lockdowns which have been
enforced throughout the country recently. These lockdowns highlight how we must
be prepared to deal with and manage the coronavirus in the coming months. As a
result, The Almshouse Association would like to offer some guidance on how to
best prepare for these lockdowns.
So far the most difficult aspect of the lockdowns has been the timing of their implementation. The Government has announced lockdowns usually the evening before they are due to take effect, which does not leave a lot of time for you to adjust how you work. It is, therefore, a good idea to have a plan of action ready to go just in case. For many, this will be a case of reverting back to how you operated during the national lockdown but you always double check local guidance to see what specific restrictions are in place.
Things to consider
- Residents
- Ensure they are kept up to date with developments by providing official, trusted information.
- Plan how you can help residents with shopping and any other services.
- Make regular contact to ensure they are coping well.
- Create contingency plans for those who receive outside care and support by liaising with providers.
- Buildings
- Consider closing all communal rooms and guest facilities.
- Limit and restrict visitors such as family and contractors.
- Only carry out essential maintenance work and legally required safety checks.
- Ensure that any contractors attending the site are not displaying symptoms of Covid-19 and adhere to strict social distancing and hygiene rules.
- Regular cleaning/disinfecting should be carried out.
- Consider placing signs, floor stickers and hand sanitisers around communal entrances/exits if you haven’t already done so.
- Staff
- Arrange work from home responsibilities, ensuring that staff have all equipment they require to carry out their roles as effectively as possible.
- Contact residents by phone rather than visiting in person.
- Considering reaching out to one of the mutual aid groups which have been set up earlier in the crisis (many of these may now be winding down operations as lockdowns ease but, building a relationship could prove beneficial in the long-term).
Further guidance from the Government can be found here.
If any of the guidance is not clear or you would like further support, please do not hesitate to contact The Almshouse Association.
Posted 3 August 2020
Following a letter sent to The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak MP, The Almshouse Association has received a response in the form of a letter from Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Kemi Badenoch MP, representing The Treasury.
The letter sets out in detail what support is being provided to charities at various levels to support them and enable them to continue to provide their vital services. The full letter can be found here.
Here at The Almshouse Association we are glad that the Government is listening to and responding to our concerns. The levels of political engagement with the almshouse movement during this ongoing coronavirus pandemic has been exceptional and we are incredibly grateful for the support and cooperation of politicians from all parties across the UK.
Posted 18 May 2020
The Charity Commission has published guidance for the charity sector on how to run your charity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Information includes:
- Charity objects: understand if you can help with coronavirus efforts
- Government financial support for charities
- Using reserves and restricted funds
- AGMs and other meetings: postponing or cancelling meetings
- Holding meetings online or by telephone
- Reporting serious incidents to the Charity Commission
- Keeping people safe
- Working with a company or business to help with coronavirus
- Charity SORP guidance
- Information from other organisations
Posted 16 April 20