A new report published by SCVO has outlined the extent to which Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) has had to adapt to the challenges posed by the Covid 19 lockdown, and has highlighted the immense role played by local organisations in supporting residents through the crisis.
The ‘Covid 19 Impact on Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Sector’ report draws on the views and experiences of a wide range of local VCS leaders during April and May 2020 as organisations found themselves navigating the uncharted territory of the emerging pandemic. More than three-quarters of organisations contributing to the report were able to keep operating and adapting to new ways of working, providing vital help to their communities. The report also acknowledges the challenges ahead for communities and those organisations that serve them.
Mark Davis, SCVO’s Chief Executive Officer, commented “This report highlights the crucial part that our local voluntary sector plays in the life of our borough. VCS leaders, staff and volunteers have once again gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that those adversely affected by the lockdown have received the practical and emotional support that they need. Their skill and commitment in a period of real adversity is to be commended, and we should be especially proud of our voluntary sector at this time.”
A copy of the report is available on SCVO’s website here.
Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Sector has been demonstrating typical resilience during this period of life under lockdown, with many examples of organisations adapting to change brilliantly and going the extra mile to support our local communities. Now SCVO is seeking feedback from VCS organisations to understand better how the Covid 19 situation is impacting them and what the future may hold for them.