Voluntary Action Camden

3rd June: Financial Impacts on the VCS Survey

This forum focused on the financial impacts of the virus on the sector. Alex Charles from VAC presented the findings of VAC’s recent survey to the sector and the groups broke into breakout rooms on Zoom for a follow-up discussion.

 

 

Future topics include:

Wed 1 July 11am Disporportionate Impact of Covid-19 on BAME Communities

Wed 15 July Sustainability or new ways of working??

WEd 29 July Space and place – the role of buildings, offices and meeting spaces in the future??

20th May 2020: online vs. offline services

Updates

Somers Town History Group: an update on their work. If you have people who’d like to get involved in activities locally (stories?) -please refer to:  somerstownhistory@gmail.com www.aspaceforus.club

Camden Carers: an update on how their work is focused on covid-19.  Camden Carers Art Video (Inside/Outside)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS9_ljH5zGQ

Ageing Better in Camden’s Older People’s Advisory Group (OPAG)

OAPG members have various different levels of technological devices, skills and confidence. For some a zoom call is no problem, for others it is a very big step to take. We have been doing our best to support the different needs in the group to keep people connected, as well as encouraging and supporting members to support each other and take the lead – a key principal in our asset-based work.

Members of OPAG (who wish to) have been calling each other regularly to check in and see how others are doing – this system has been devised and led by two older people in the group. Through this lots of group members are staying in touch with someone they know, as well as in some cases forming new or stronger relationships.

The group have also been sending in information they discover about activities going on across Camden that people can get involved in and centrally we have been sharing these in a newsletter. The newsletters are curated and introduced by a different member each week, so we are hearing about all different lockdown experiences, from hanging out the window to get your vitamin D to cycling on Hampstead Heath. This breadth in experience has also reminded us as a programme of the difference in skill and knowledge in our community, and that older people should not in this time all be stereotyped as ‘vulnerable’ – they are valuable assets and should be at centre of our response to COVID-19, as they are for all our work.

Another area of work that is important to mention here is our response for people who are not online at all. There are various reasons for this – lack of materials, wifi or data, lack of skill or lack of confidence and support. And some people just choose to not be online and this should be respected. We have been sending out hardcopy newsletters with at least one activity a week they can do without being online (they are difficult to find sadly and are getting more limited as we go further ahead in this crisis). We have also been doing small teleconference groups – a particularly successful one discusses Grayson Perry’s Art show which in on TV every week. However, these groups come at a cost literally, and in time and resource too, and can often only accommodate 3-4 people at most.

Resource for both getting those who want to be online and those who chose not to be or cannot be needs to be considered from various perspectives. We have been doing lots of research now have some contacts re getting access to devices, but the long term support and access to wifi are proving harder to solve.

22nd April 2020: Group updates and VCS needs during Covid-19

This was the launch of the forum and was attended by more than 15 voluntary and community groups from across Camden. Groups had the opportunity to share their response to covid-19 and hear from others what is happening on the ground, challenges faced etc.

Updates

Digital Channels and Website Design Workshop – Resources

Session Topics

  • The purpose of digital and how can it help your organisation
  • Digital channels – what are the options?
  • Who are your main stakeholders?
  • Main functionality of your website
  • Platforms for building a website
  • Tips on how to build a website
  • Web hosting and domain management

Resources

Communities Together- Cohesion Fund

Up to £72K will be available to the voluntary and community sector to deliver activities that promote community cohesion. The fund will be open from 10th June to 1st July for small grant applications of £500-£1,500 with a very quick and simple application process. Decisions will be made by a grant panel of Camden residents.  Full details about the fund will be available soon.

 

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