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Our response to COVID-19

As a social action organisation, our purpose and passion is to support and champion York’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector; to make positive change, challenge issues and grow new ideas to strengthen communities. And what a challenge we have all been faced with!

Here at York CVS our purpose and passion remain the same as we navigate through the coronavirus pandemic. Below we have detailed our activities during the crisis and highlighted the support we are providing to individuals and the VCSE sector in York.

 

Support for groups and organisations

Many organisations are having to adapt to meet the changing needs of their communities due to the coronavirus pandemic. We are providing support with a range of organisational issues, including:

  • Safeguarding guidance
  • Policies and procedures
  • Local and national funding opportunities and bid-writing support

We have published the following documents to support organisations:

We are also providing weekly updates to our members and mailing list, sharing local and national news, resources and information to support them to deliver their services. Please contact our Funding and Development Officer, Jane Granville (jane.granville@yorkcvs.org.uk) for more information and to see how we can support your organisation.

 

Coronavirus Community Fund

We are supporting the Two Ridings Community Foundation with their Coronavirus Community Fund. The Fund has been set up to support community groups across North Yorkshire, York, East Riding of Yorkshire or Hull during the Covid-19 crisis. Catherine Scott is working alongside Two Ridings Community Foundation to gather local intelligence on need and activity in York to support the Fund.

The Fund aims to provide emergency funding to community organisations dealing with emerging issues in the community as a result of the continuing threat of coronavirus, with priority given to organisations supporting those most vulnerable to meet needs that have arisen as a result of the current crisis. This includes older people, people with long term health conditions, people with mental health difficulties, people affected by homelessness and other groups who are particularly vulnerable at this time. Two Ridings Community Foundation will also be moving towards awarding larger resilience grants as the situation progresses.

As the situation develops we would encourage you to get in touch with Catherine Scott at York CVS (Catherine.scott@yorkcvs.org.uk) or to Two Ridings Community Foundation directly (info@tworidingscf.org.uk) to let them know about any emerging issues that you are observing. This will help make sure the money goes directly to community organisations supporting those who are most vulnerable at this time.

For more information about the fund and details of how to apply, visit: https://www.tworidingscf.org.uk/fund/coronavirus-community-fund/

 

Support for vulnerable individuals

GP phone line:

We are working directly with GP surgeries across York to cover a phone line (from 08:00-18:00) that forms part of the GP call menu and provides individuals with access to non-medical support. Within the first week we actioned and supported over 200 vulnerable people in York.

We have been receiving calls and providing support and guidance to people who are self-isolating and are lonely, scared, and feel extremely vulnerable. We have been providing bespoke solutions for individuals to get access to the food and medicine they need whilst working in partnership with carers and loved ones to keep them up-to-date on the person they care for.

Alongside taking phone calls we have:

  • Supported a number of vulnerable individuals identified by their GP to successfully amend prescriptions and arrange delivery or collection of medicines.
  • Provided support for people with learning difficulties to understand the importance of staying home and how to access support.
  • Put plans in place for individuals living with Dementia to receive a daily welfare call.
  • Supported individuals in crisis to access same day appointments with their GP.
  • Arranged for emergency food parcels to be delivered to those most in need, when this has been the only option.

Weekly welfare calls:

Alongside staffing the phone line, we are conducting weekly welfare phone calls to individuals who have been identified as vulnerable by their GP Practices.

As the crisis developed, our team of Social Prescribing Link Workers telephoned those individuals who had been identified, to establish if they would like to receive ongoing support. These people are now receiving a weekly welfare phone call to see how they are feeling and to check that they have everything they need. Individuals are also requesting to receive a weekly welfare call via the GP phone line.

Our weekly welfare calls are made by staff and volunteers from a number of our social action projects, including: Healthwatch York and York Dementia Action Alliance. We are well placed to deal with the often complex, sensitive issues that arise from welfare calls. Our long-established links with and knowledge of York’s statutory agencies and voluntary sector organisations aids us in getting the right help to the right people as quickly as possible.

You can refer yourself or another individual by Completing the online form, or by downloading the Non-medical Support Referral Form (PDF), and returning it to: enquiries@yorkcvs.org.uk

 

Supporting pharmacies

 We are currently working with 5 pharmacies within York in partnership with Move the Masses to provide batch and individual prescription delivery. There are now 52 volunteers doing prescription deliveries around the city; reducing footfall in to pharmacies. This service also enables vulnerable individuals to avoid unnecessary queues outside the pharmacies and keeping trips into the pharmacy for those who need onsite services.

We are in contact with the remaining pharmacies in York as getting medication delivered to those who are shielding or self-isolating is still the priority issue.

 

Time to Change York

Time to Change (TTC) York continues to work towards ending mental health stigma and discrimination in York during COVID-19. Although we can no longer hold our face to face events, we continue to campaign through our social media channels (Facebook and Twitter @TTCYork) and both our monthly steering group and Champions group meetings are continuing via video conferencing technology. Our TTC Coordinator, Emma, is also in regular discussion with TTC up and down the country as to how we continue our work the best we can during these unprecedented times.

Our work with health professionals has temporarily ceased as the NHS and other providers focus on directly fighting the coronavirus. However, our work with York employers and our Community Champions continues. Our community Champions sharing their lived experiences of mental health problems remain the key way for us to help change attitudes and bust myths and stigma around mental health. If you would like to become a Champion, or involve your workplace, or generally find out more about our campaign and how you can become involved please contact: timetochange@yorkcvs.org.uk or visit https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/hub/time-to-change-york