Resources for difficult times: COVID-19

The COVID-19 or Coronavirus crisis is causing so much distress and pain in every country and society. It’s hard to think or talk about anything else right now. Fear, illness and in some cases death is being reported everywhere and may have affected you too. It’s hard not to go through any part of the day and not hear about the terrible toll it’s taking mentally, emotionally and physically. In addition to all this, a lot of people have lost jobs, their homes and are battling for financial survival.

While large parts of every country are going through difficulties, we know that it’s the underrepresented who often suffer the most. The poor, disabled and in our case black people. While fighting our usual battles in the workplace, we could now be in a position where we’re losing jobs or suffering financially right now.

I wanted to put something together that could help the Afrowoman Online community if they are also experiencing difficulties. I know what it’s like to be unemployed and run into challenges. So I understand the need to know which resources are available to help you. A place to find links to business, financial and personal support.

This isn’t an exhaustive list but somewhere for you to start and if you think of anything you think I should add, please let me know below:

Business Support – Insolvency services

Company Debt

Company Debt provides business rescue and insolvency services to large, medium and small businesses throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island.

Charities

• Turn2Us – a national charity offering benefits information, grants and support
• Citizens Advice – help with benefits, consumer issues and other work and financial matters
• Credit unions – locally based, regulated loan and savings membership organisations
• Search for grants from a range of organisations

There’s a helpful article on the BBC about finding charities who can help: BBC

Citizens Advice

• Consumer rights – Citizens Advice

Community Groups

Preston Windrush – Supporting the local community by providing and delivering Caribbean meals. Donate to their fundraising appeal.

Domestic abuse – Help & Support

• https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/domestic-abuse/

• https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/what-is-domestic-abuse/

Employment advice

• Unison (the union)

Funding for charities

National Emergencies Trust (NET) – NET is a charity set up to raise funds from the general public in the event of a domestic disaster or emergency.
BAME charities can apply for NET Coronavirus Appeal funding at: https://www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/our-network

Government websites providing Corona Virus updates:

The Department of Health & Social Care:

Providing news and updates about health policy and decisions led by the Government:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care

Public Health England:

The Government Agency working to support the British public’s health:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

NHS:

Delivering health care services, treatments and medicine: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Business advice

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

• Financial support for businesses: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Education & Courses (Online)

• Open University are offering some free courses – https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue
• The Skills Toolkit: New free online learning platform to boost workplace skills

Financial advice

• The Money Advice Service: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/coronavirus-what-it-means-for-you

• Finty: an in-depth guide called: Money & Mental Health – Practical Financial Skills to Manage Money

Health

Information about Vitamin D:

• NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/
• Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-vitamin-d

Home Schooling

• BBC – Bitesize Daily Lessons

• BBC Teach for free – Teaching resources

• MyTutor – Homeschooling: during COVID-19: how one family is doing it

Mental Health

• NHS: Mental wellbeing while staying at home
• Public Health England: Guidance for parents & carers – supporting young people’s mental health
• Community Outreach team at Rehab 4 Addiction – A guide about guarding mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Remote Working

• CocoFax – 500+ most popular remote working tools – The ultimate list to help you find the right tools for working from home

Work & Employment advice

ACAS – for workplace guidance:

• www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus
• Guidance on working from home: www.acas.org.uk/working-from-home
• A template letter for furlough: www.acas.org.uk/furlough-letter-template

Other things to think about….

• Can you speak to your landlord about a payment holiday?

• Have you frozen your gym membership?

• Some of the bank have announced they are offering free overdrafts during this time or reducing overdraft fees. So check what’s happening

• And the obvious – can you reduce debt or save extra in anyway?

Is there anything else I should include here?

If you think I’ve missed anything, please leave a comment below and I’ll add it. The more we all have the resources we need or are aware of what’s available, will help us to manage this difficult time.

I hope you stay blessed and #stayhealthy during this difficult time. #Afrowomanonline #Thrive&Strive #Stayhealthy #Stayblessed