Community and voluntary organisations have played a major part in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic throughout the city, for example managing the network of food banks and food distribution outlets, providing their support services online, reaching out to communities and individuals who became isolated and fearful during the lockdown.
Help is available to community and voluntary organisations so they can continue to support the city’s residents.
Community Works
Community Works is the local service funded by Brighton & Hove City Council to provide advice and support, learning and networking opportunities and the Volunteer Centre. They offer:
- training on a range of topics including HR, fundraising and volunteer coordination
- one to one email, telephone or virtual advice
- access to trusted and experienced consultants and Pro Bono expertise, enabling senior leaders to set aside time for planning reflection and managing risk
- a range of networks to support organisations in sharing best practice and partnership working
- Volunteer brokerage and good practice guidance in volunteer coordination
For more information please visit the Community Works website or contact them at: info@bhcommunityworks.org.uk
The Resource Centre
The Resource Centre provides a range of services for community groups and voluntary sector organisations including:
- Organising online activities and events
- Video and telephone meeting tools
- Managing funds for short-lived crisis-response groups
- Emergency grant funding for groups responding to the Covid-19 crisis
- Applying for funding in uncertain times
- Communicating with funders
- Planning activities as we move out of lockdown
- Navigating changes in availability of venues, volunteers, and other resources as lockdown is eased
For more information look at the Resource Centre website, email info@resourcecentre.org.uk or call 01273 606160 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am to 1pm). Pleave a message outside of these hours and someone will get back to you.
Re-opening community facilities
The government has published guidance on the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities (updated to cover lockdown restrictions).
Guidance on faith settings and places of worship
There are additional restrictions on places of worship during the national lockdown, such as a return to individual prayer and no sharing of items.
Latest guidance for the safe use of places of worship (updated 6 November) on GOV.UK. Translations have now been added into Arabic, Bengali, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, French, Gujarati, Polish, Portugese, Punjabi, Romanian, Somali, and Urdu.
Faith Action has put together a video to help you understand what is required of places of worship, highlighting the key points from the official government guidance.
Find out more from:
- The Muslim Council of Britain for guidance for mosques, madrasas and Umrah pilgrims.
- The Methodist Church for advice on attending church.
- The Church of England for guidance for churches.
- The Catholic Church for guidance for parishes.
Community links
Find information about the local community response to COVID-19 from the Trust for Developing Communities.
Search for local organisations that can provide support with everything from food and shopping to money advice and loneliness.
Message from our Community Engagement Team
Community Engagement and Tenant and Leaseholder meetings are beginning to start up again. Most of these will be online meetings and will be advertised though the website and the Community Engagement Facebook page.
How to report a hate incident
There have been some reports of discrimination directed against our international communities. We will never accept discrimination in any form against one community or another.
Hate incidents can be reported to the Community Safety Team at Brighton & Hove City Council:
- email CommunitySafety.Casework@brighton-hove.gov.uk
- phone 01273 292 735 (in an emergency always call the police on 999)
- complete our online anti-social behaviour and hate incident reporting form
Hate incidents can also be reported to the police. Visit the Sussex Police website for details or call 101 (or 999 in an emergency).