Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Badenoch and Strathspey Communities

Please access the Fund Request Form and Guidance Notes (below) for details.

It is a really simple process to access the fund, just requiring a chat with Ann or Karen before submitting the form, so VABS can ensure all the activity is eligible. The Fund will cover any Covid-19 related activity carried out between 16th March and 1st September 2020, so a retrospective claim is also possible, for costs incurred from the start of the outbreak.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Badenoch and Strathspey Communities

This section of the website is dedicated to:

• Keeping you up to date with best practice and guidance for volunteers, voluntary organisations and communities in B&S, during the current situation
• Provision of toolkit and appendices for setting up community response process
• Relevant links that will update – for getting information out to volunteers and community groups

Badenoch and Strathspey COVID-19 Community Helplines

Citizens Advice

• CAB Helpline for Badenoch and Strathspey: 0800 028 1456
• Email advice on Debt, Housing, Benefits, Employment, Domestic Violence and Evictions IBSCAB1@gmail.com
• ACAS Advice on Employment Issues: 0300 123 1100
• Residents needing help with income maximisation, problems with benefits or making a new claim: Citizens Advice Benefits helpline 0800 023 2581
• Residents needing help with money advice or debt matters: helpline 0800 085 7145

Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG)

In order to qualify for a PVG check, new volunteers would need to be carrying out a regulated work activity with children or protected adults regularly and as part of their normal duties with an organisation. As we are in the early stages of self-isolation, it’s currently not possible to determine if the activities will be regular or normal duties. Your organisation may also consider that the new services or increased provision is in response to a crisis / emergency situation (which would not require a PVG).

There are several support activities which definitely do not require a PVG check such as shopping, cash handling, having access to people’s details and dog walking. Each organisation has to risk assess these activities and consider whether there is a need for any further safeguarding such as supervising new volunteers more closely.