Coronavirus: Our commitment to the voluntary sector in Oldham

Published date: 
Tuesday, 24th March 2020

Coronavirus: Our commitment to the voluntary sector in Oldham

From Oldham Council, NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group and Action Together

With the Coronavirus bringing unprecedent challenges, the ethos and spirit of what we call “Team Oldham” – public and community services pulling together for the good of our borough –  has never been more needed.

As a voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector (VCFSE)  that plays a hugely important role in “Team Oldham”, today we are setting out our commitment on how we can support and work with you during these challenging times to ensure that our collective networks, skills, resources and relationships can be used for best effect.

In the past week more than 400 people across Oldham have registered to become a volunteer. We are now working on a plan on how best we can utilise this huge support in a co-ordinated fashion to ensure that people who need our help the most receive it.

In the meantime we would like to set out a series of commitments for how we want to work with you.

We commit to:

·         allowing you to be creative in utilising your existing funding and resources to support the most vulnerable

·         supporting you to direct and deploy your staff and volunteers safely in the best way that you can through a co-ordinated effort that takes into account the government guidance

·         easing monitoring and reporting deadlines and expectations for the end of the current financial year (to 31st March 2020) and for April, May and June 2020, so that you can focus on your continuity plans and supporting the people that access your services and support

In return, we ask you:

·         to work with us on a co-ordinated response and stay informed, through Action Together, on how you can help.

·         communicate any significant changes to your funded activities to your contract manager or grant manager

At this time, we know that communities are a critical part of our defences. We encourage your energy, passion and creativity in keeping people safe and connected and we’d like to thank you for all that you’re doing to support people and communities across the borough of Oldham.

As additional local support for vulnerable people is built over coming days and weeks the VCSFE will pay an integral part. Additional funding is likely to be made available and we will keep you fully informed of the detail of this when we have it.

 

Cllr Sean Fielding, Leader of Oldham Council

Dr Carolyn Wilkins, OBE, Chief Executive of Oldham Council and Accountable Officer for NHS Oldham CCG

Dr John Patterson, Chief Clinical Officer for NHS Oldham

Liz Windsor-Welsh, Chief Executive Officer, Action Together 

Borough: