Coronavirus support for Sandwell’s community and voluntary sector
Please note that we are no longer updating this page (May 2022).
Few parts of our lives are unaffected by the coronavirus crisis. We know the community and voluntary sector has adapted brilliantly to help people in need while battling its own difficulties with funding, managing volunteers, and keeping people safe. Here we’ve rounded up resources to help Sandwell voluntary and community groups and social enterprises emerge from this tough time.
Please also see our pages on giving and receiving help, and mental health and wellbeing. 
> Go to coronavirus support for Sandwell businesses
SCVO is the support organisation for Sandwell’s voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises. It is working alongside Sandwell Council, Sandwell Public Health and the Sandwell sections of West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service and the NHS to coordinate the community response to Covid-19 in our borough.
Through SCVO you can find out:
* What’s happening across Sandwell, borough-wide and in each of the six towns, with details of mutual aid groups
* How you can help as an individual (see also our giving and receiving help page for ways in which your business can get involved)
* Information and guidance for VCS groups, including details of grant funding
* Information on mental health and wellbeing (see also our page on mental health).
The charity Birmingham Community Matters (BCM) rounded up many coronavirus resources for community groups, charities and voluntary organisations, including details of emergency funding and continuity support – although it is no longer being updated while BCM works on its new website.
Birmingham Health Partners have published this guide – ‘How to safely wear a facemask’ – in 16 languages.
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Keeping one another safe during community activities
Community facilities
Here is the government’s guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities.
Places of worship
The government has new guidance for the safe use of places of worship during the pandemic. Here is the guidance for the safe use of places of worship.
Playgrounds and outdoor gyms
Here is the latest government guidance on managing playgrounds and outdoor gyms.
Sport and recreation
Here is government guidance on the sport and recreation. The government has guidance for providers of grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities, when they are allowed to open.
Urban centres and green spaces
For owners and operators of urban centres and green spaces, here is government guidance on creating safer public places.
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Looking out for people
How to help someone at risk of domestic abuse.
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Grant funding
The links above will give you more extensive lists of grant funding programmes than we have the resources to maintain here.
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> Return to coronavirus support for Sandwell businesses
