| Coronavirus advice and resources |
|
|
| |
| Which test is best? |
| |
|
Manchester’s Director of Public Health, David Regan gives the lowdown on Covid testing in the city – for people with and without symptoms. Read Which test is best here
Vaccination programme – unpaid carers are encouraged to get the Covid-19 vaccine
If you are an unpaid carer you can get the Covid-19 vaccine if you are:
- Registered with your GP as a carer
- Eligible for a carer's allowance
- Receiving support from the council or a local carers' organisation
Find out more here
Vaccination update
Over 145,018 people have had their first dose of the vaccine through GP practices in Manchester.
Even if you have had your vaccination you should still stay home.
New BBC video content in 5 South Asian languages now available
Content includes:
Lockdown mental health tips
Vaccine scams
Lockdown rules explained
Test and trace
Vaccine explainer
Vaccine Q&A
Vaccine myths busting
Website resources
On our website you can find a range of resources and support aimed at local charities, community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises on issues relating to Covid-19, view our website resources here
These pages will be regularly updated and added to, if you have any resources or learning to share or if there is anything you think needs to be added, please email: [email protected]
|
| |
|
|
|
| I knew that this place could make me something – The impact of universal, open access youth services |
|
Last week saw the launch of No Going Back – Gorton and Levenshulme, a new publication which gives a platform to 16 local organisations to highlight local experiences and views of working during the original Covid-19 lockdown and over the last 12 months. The collection of inspirational stories and interviews focuses on Gorton and Levenshulme, a community area that has faced its fair share of challenges during Covid-19 and shows the critical role played by voluntary organisations in supporting communities during an unprecedented pandemic.
We will be sharing a number of articles from the publication with you over the next few weeks. The first is from Adam, CEO, HideOut Youth Zone and describes what happened when he finally got the keys to the Youth Zone building last March…at the same time as the lockdown announcement. Also, Adam outlines what they have managed to achieve over the last 12 months and his hopes for the future.
“For as long as Government guidance allows, we will be here for young people seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year, not just because young people need our services but because they deserve them.”
We’ve had a great response to No Going Back – Gorton and Levenshulme already. Read the article here and the full report here
|
| Have your say on the future of employer supported volunteering! |
|
Between 2018 and 2021, the Skill Givers project, a partnership between Salford CVS and Macc, has been testing a new approach to employer supported volunteering across Salford and Manchester.
We put voluntary groups, community groups, charities and social enterprises in the driver’s seat and gave them a platform to ask for the support they really needed, from employers who wanted to offer their team a chance to volunteer and support the local community.
As a test and learn project we incorporated feedback from those involved in the project at all stages where it was possible. We made additional changes after March 2020 to further simplify the process in an attempt to try to relieve any additional barriers to requesting support during this difficult time.
We are currently carrying out an evaluation of the project as a whole and putting together recommendations for future work in this area. To do this we need to hear from the VCSE sector across Greater Manchester.
Please complete our short survey here by 19 March
|
| Vaccinations and testing for Manchester VCSE sector frontline health and care staff against Covid-19 |
|
Staff and volunteers in the voluntary community and social enterprise sector have played a major role in the community response to Covid-19. We want to make sure all workers who directly provide frontline support AND who are working with people clinically vulnerable to Covid-19 across the city can work safely and access Covid-19 vaccinations as soon as possible, wherever they work, whoever they work for, whether as an employee or as a volunteer.
Vaccinations
The scale of this is of course unlike any vaccination programme we have seen before so firstly we need to understand the numbers of people in the workforce who need to be vaccinated and of those, how many are at particular risk. Macc will send a daily update to the local NHS staff who are leading on the vaccination programme. This will ensure your organisation is on the list to be contacted as vaccines become available. As vaccination slots become available, you will be contacted by the vaccination team with further details.
Rapid Covid testing
Rapid Covid testing is available in Manchester for anyone who can’t work from home and whose organisation or employer doesn’t have an asymptomatic testing system in place. The move is preventative and is to test people who live or work in the city, who do not have symptoms – but could still spread the virus without knowing they have it. The testing uses lateral flow devices which involve a swab of the nose and throat – and can give a result within half an hour because it does not require sending off to a lab for analysis. If the person is negative they can continue to work, but must still follow all other safety measures like social distancing, hand-washing and face-coverings. But if the result is positive they must self-isolate immediately and the result will also feed into the NHS Test and Trace system.
Sign up your organisation here
|
| Help us to get our online directory of voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Manchester up to date |
|
We want to make sure everyone has access to up to date information about the support available from local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) organisations in Manchester – and, for those wishing to help, how they can support the work of local community organisations to ensure nobody is left behind during these difficult times.
We have repurposed our online directory as a free, open resource for pulling all this information together in one place so that local people, public sector partners and businesses can use it. Our directory is Manchester’s public record of VCSE organisations, containing basic information about who they are and what they do. We will expand this with much more detailed information about the support and services on offer, opening times, contact details and information about what organisations need, such as volunteer support or asks for donations and fundraising campaigns.
This means that individuals can find what is open and what kinds of support are available. It also helps us at Macc understand what organisations need and how we can support our amazing VCSE colleagues in their continuing response to Covid-19.
Update or register your organisation on our online directory here
If you have any questions please email Michelle at: [email protected]
|
| Virtual Volunteer Coordinators Forum |
|
Don't miss the next Volunteer Coordinators Forum taking place online, on Tuesday 23 March 2021, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Join in with a facilitated discussion that will help shape a set of recommendations and principles to hand to Manchester City Council; to influence their future responses in what remains and is to come as a result of this challenging time thrown up by Covid-19. We will also be bringing you an update on what the volunteer centre has in store for Volunteers' Week 2021; and our usual round up of news and information from Macc and the volunteer centre regarding all things volunteering, both local and national. There will also be plenty of time for discussion, information sharing and networking.
Register here
er?id=6806&reset=1
|
| Be a hero from home! |
|
Our Hero From Home microsite offers information, guidance and practical resources on ways you can get involved in lots of different opportunities, events and activities from home. These pages include information about virtual volunteering opportunities that you can do from home, including our Online Advocate role which involves sharing messages of hope and help on social media to support voluntary organisations, charities and communities in Manchester. If you are a group or organisation and would like to add something to the Hero from Home microsite, please contact Volunteer Centre Manchester on 0161 830 4770 or email: [email protected]
|
| News |
|
|
