These updates have been provided to us by the DWP
Coronavirus and the Latest Indicators for the UK Economy and Society
The Office for National Statistics has published early experimental data on the impact of the coronavirus (link is external) (COVID-19) on the UK economy and society. Some of the main points are:
- 79% of businesses in the UK had applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, whilst 42% of businesses had less than six months of cash reserves
- Of the 14% of businesses who reported they had paused trading but are intending to restart trading in the next two weeks, they expect 31% of their workforce will return from furlough leave
- Online job adverts declined by more than 50% from the start of March to the start of May 2020
- New declarations for Universal Credit and new claim advances have both gradually declined to 19 May 2020, following peaks on 27 March and 6 April, respectively.
Touchbase
Touchbase are producing special editions, that are currently being issued on a weekly basis, so that employers and partners can get updates on DWP announcements. These are being emailed out to subscribers and are not being published on GOV.UK. Here is the latest edition Coronavirus Special - 29 May 2020
Risk Assessment for BAME Workers - Wales
A new Workforce Risk Assessment Tool (link is external) is being launched to support people from BAME backgrounds in the NHS and social care in Wales.
Visa Extensions
Overseas nationals (link is external) who cannot return home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will be able to extend their visa until 31 July . This applies to anyone whose leave expired after the 24 January and cannot leave the country because of travel restrictions or self-isolation. Those on temporary visas, such as visitor visas, should return home as soon as it is safe and possible to do
Call on Community Partners
Dame Louise Casey has called on all parts of society, including communities, businesses, charities and faith groups, to join forces and help rough sleepers (link is external) and turn their lives around during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund - England
Small and micro businesses with fixed property costs that are not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund may be eligible for the Discretionary Grants Scheme (link is external).
Safe Spaces for those Experiencing Domestic Abuse
Morrisons is the first supermarket to offer a safe space where victims of domestic abuse (link is external) can contact support services. Consulting rooms in pharmacies in 117 Morrisons stores will be designated safe spaces where Morrisons pharmacists - who have been specially trained - can direct those seeking help to the support they need.
Transforming Homelessness Services - Wales
A new £20m fund (link is external) will help ensure that no-one in emergency shelter during the coronavirus crisis has to return to the streets or unsuitable accommodation. An initial funding package meant over 800 people have been housed since lockdown began. Many previously slept on streets or were the ‘hidden homeless’ living as ‘sofa surfers’ or in unsuitable temporary accommodation.
Support for Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland (link is external) will receive a funding boost of up to £15 million to help them deal with increased demand for advice and information from the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reopening High Streets Safely Fund - England
A new £50 million fund (link is external) for councils to support their local high streets get safely back to business has been announced. The fund will help councils in England introduce a range of safety measures in a move to kick-start local economies, get people back to work and customers back to the shops.
Support for Rough Sleepers
Radical plans (link is external) to provide thousands of long-term, safe homes for vulnerable rough sleepers taken off the streets during the pandemic have been unveiled. Funding will ensure that 6,000 new housing units will be put into the system, with 3,300 of these becoming available in the next 12 months.
£5 million funding given to mental health community projects (link is external)
Community projects supporting people with their mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will benefit from their share of £5 million of additional funding
Published on Monday 1st June 2020