This information has been provided to us by the DWP
Roundup of recent DWP announcements
Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
The new Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will launch online on Tuesday 26 May.
The Scheme will enable small and medium sized employers with fewer than 250 employees to apply to HMRC to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay. Tax agents will also be able to make claims on behalf of their employers.
HMRC has published online guidance which includes information about who can use the scheme and the records employers must keep.
To find out more please visit GOV.UK.
For an overview of the scheme, you can also register to attend a live webinar.
Focus on agriculture
DWP has been working in partnership with the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to help bring together unemployed or furloughed workers with employers who have vacancies to fill in the agricultural sector. We’ve set up a dedicated page on our new Jobhelp site to help people understand what to expect, how to apply and why they should consider working in this critical sector.
Our new page supports DEFRA’s Pick for Britain campaign which launched on 19 May, with endorsement from the HRH Prince of Wales, to help employers fill these crucial vacancies.
New Coronavirus Community Support Fund now open
The Coronavirus Community Support Fund aims to support the tens of thousands of charities and organisations at the heart of local communities that are making a difference during the COVID-19 outbreak, including delivering food, essential medicines and providing financial advice, including welfare advice and support. The funding is to help organisations ensure they can meet increased demand as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as continuing their day to day activities supporting vulnerable people in need.
More information can be found on the National Lottery Community Fund website.
Details of other available funding opportunities are available on GOV.UK.
Charities can now refer clients to support from NHS Volunteer Responders
Charities and other Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations can now become approved referrers so that they can make referrals to the NHS Volunteer Responders programme on behalf of their clients/members. If a VCS organisation wishes to become an approved referrer, they should review the information online before contacting england.covid-communities@nhs.net.
The NHS Volunteer Responders programme has been developed by NHS England in partnership with the Royal Voluntary Service and facilitated by the Good Sam app. The programme was set up to complement care and support at a local level, with volunteers carrying out simple, non-medical tasks to support people in England who need help with accessing essentials or who would benefit from a friendly chat to help prevent loneliness. Over 750,000 people signed up to the programme and of these, almost 600,000 passed the identity verification requirements and can receive tasks.
Published on Tuesday 26th May 2020