News and updates
The CLD Response to COVID-19 – Seeking your views
Last week we launched what will be a monthly survey recording the contribution of CLD practitioners to the COVID-19 challenge with a long term aim of securing CLD services that are properly resourced to rebuild learning communities.
Please help by completing the short survey about the successes, challenges and well-being of CLD practitioners.
Please complete this instance of the survey by the end of 17th April. This will give us our first snapshot of activity and allow us to track changes for CLD practitioners over time.
Please complete the survey here:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/6R65JN/
Please also pass this link on to any CLD colleagues. We really appreciate your support with this task at this busy time.
Other news for the sector –
Fees suspended for urgent disclosures for COVID-19 response workers.
Disclosure Scotland is suspending all fees for key workers and volunteers who are being drafted to help Scotland fight against coronavirus.
This is a temporary measure which will be in place initially till the 11th May, before being reviewed and extended further, if needed.
Disclosure Scotland is also prioritising checks for the workers Scotland needs to deal with the coronavirus.
Further information: https://www.mygov.scot/disclosure-types/
Extra Hardship payments for students
A £5 million package of emergency financial support is being put in place by the Scottish Government to help university and college students in Scotland facing hardship as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Richard Lochhead Minister for Further and Higher Education said –
“We are ensuring students studying in Scotland should have access to emergency support should they be facing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 or the social distancing and isolation measures that have been introduced.”
Further information on the Scottish Government website- https://www.gov.scot/news/extra-hardship-payments-for-students/
Covid-19 – the impact on disabled people in Scotland
Inclusion Scotland want policy and decision-makers to know what is really happening to disabled people on the ground, and what changes are needed. They are carrying out a survey and are looking for information particularly from disabled people, or those who support a disabled person. To share and promote the survey, you can use this link: www.bit.ly/covid19disabledpeople
COVID-19 – the impact on community organisations
The Poverty Alliance have gathered views from community organisations involved in their network on the impacts of COVID-19. They conclude: “It is clear that community organisations across Scotland are stepping up to protect people living on low incomes from the worst impacts of the Coronavirus crisis. But despite their efforts, the social and economic impact is already being felt by people living in the grip of poverty across our communities…It is essential not only to ensure that community organisations are fully-supported to carry out their vital work, but also to…ensure that their voices help to inform all local and national responses.”
Read the report here: https://www.povertyalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Community-organisations-and-COVID19-PA-briefing-6-April-2020.pdf