The Effects Of Covid-19 And The Voluntary Sectors

Generally, voluntary sector organisations are expecting the demand for services to surge over the next months as the impact of local lockdowns and rising unemployment caused by the pandemic filters down to communities . This is resulting in; multiple voluntary organisations being forced to change the way they operate to continue to meet the needs of those they support.

From the RMVS Assembly members responses, it is evident that organisations are finding alternative ways of working and embracing improvisation in response to the challenges of the pandemic to assist them in sustainability. The increase of online services demonstrates how the voluntary sector have had to make services accessible to their service users by e.g., moving existing face-to-face venue-based services to online to meet both the existing and new needs of communities. TREC have assisted in funding this by supplying mini grants to some Assembly members (e.g., The Eritrean Community) to help purchase zoom licenses enabling communities to stay connected.

Highfields Adventure Playground is a community hub and playground which has supported many families through its summer play schemes with open access to daily activities, games and more for children aged between 6 -14 over its 50 years of operation.

At the start of the pandemic, the Playground, based in Spinney Hill Park, Highfields was forced to close its doors, but partially reopened to support families with young children (aged 6-14) by providing hundreds of food parcels from June 2020. This was later extended to accommodate children/young people aged 0-19 during the summer until April 2021. During this period, the Playground supported over 375 families and approx. 800 children/young people through a service accessible 2-3 times per week.

Its manager, Kevin Sherriff is cognisant of the impact of C19 on struggling families resulting in reduced income, loss of employment, and being furloughed. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Adventure Playground were providing approx. 26,000 meals each year as part of the Holiday Hunger programme during school holidays with the support of the city council and Fare Share . June half term welcomed the return of the children to the reopening of the playground where children are only allowed to use the outdoor facilities. Through the assistance of a mini grant obtained from TREC they have been able to get industrial gazebos large enough to accommodate a pool/football tables, games, arts, and crafts and eating area, enabling the children to enjoy their play through social distancing.

The grant was also used to purchase outdoor hand washing facilities for the children allowing them to wash their hands regularly, whilst face masks and gloves are being used by staff onsite. Opening hours are slightly reduced 3:30pm - 6:30 pm for the afterschool clubs allowing staff to clean up equipment in line with government advice on Covid-19.

Shama Women Centre has also started to open its doors to its service users with face-to-face classes e.g., ESOL. On arrival staff are taking every precaution to keep each other and service users safe. Temperature is taken, and individuals are placed on a track and trace inhouse system.

The reception area and lounge have been transformed in line with social distancing guidelines. There is also a range of online courses which include cake baking, arts and crafts alongside hair and makeup, available over various times and days.

Over the next few weeks, the government restrictions will start to loosen, allowing community-based organisation to re-open. From the current known information, libraries are set to open June 21st and other community buildings such as the African Caribbean Centre is set to re-open on 5th July.

The vast majority of the RMVS Assembly members feared Covid-19 will continue to disrupt their plans in the year ahead, with predictions of a negative impact on delivering planned objectives over the next 12 months, and a small number of organisations were uncertain if they will be able to remain in operation. Overall, more than half the RMVS Assembly organisations claimed the Covid-19 related safety measures have increased their operating costs.

The Race Equality CentreJune 25, 2021