COVID-19

Local COVID Alert Level – Medium (Tier 1) 

• All businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law, such as nightclubs. 

• Certain businesses selling food or drink on their premises are required to close between 10pm and 5am. 

• Businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-thru. 

• Schools, universities and places of worship remain open 

• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees 

• Organised indoor sport and exercise classes can continue to take place, provided the Rule of Six is followed 

• People must not meet in groups larger than 6, indoors or outdoors 

Local COVID Alert Level – High (Tier 2) 

• This is for areas with a higher level of infections. This means the following additional measures are in place: 

• People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place 

• People must not meet in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other space. 

• People should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible. If they need to travel, they should walk or cycle where possible, or to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport. 

Local COVID Alert Level – Very High (Tier 3) 

This is for areas with a very high level of infections. The Government will set a baseline of measures for any area in this local alert level. Consultation with local authorities will determine additional measures. The baseline means the below additional measures are in place: 

• Pubs and bars must close, and can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant - which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal. 

• Wedding receptions are not allowed 

• People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor or outdoor setting, whether at home or in a public space. The Rule of Six applies in open public spaces like parks and beaches. 

• People should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘Very High’ area they are in, or entering a ‘Very High’ area, other than for things like work, education, accessing youth services, to meet caring responsibilities or if they are in transit. 

• People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are resident in a ‘Very High’ area, or avoid staying overnight in a ‘Very High’ area if they are resident elsewhere. 

Full list of local COVID Alert levels by area 

Expanded Job Support Scheme for businesses required to close in local lockdowns: The Job Support Scheme is being expanded to support businesses that have been legally required to close their premises due to coronavirus restrictions – the Government will pay two thirds (67%) of employees salary up to a maximum of £2,100 per month. Employers will not be required to contribute towards wages and only asked to cover NICS and pension contributions. Businesses will only be able to claim through this scheme while they are subject to restrictions and employees must be off work for a minimum 7 days. 

Local Restrictions Support Grant Scheme: businesses that are required to close due to localised restrictions can receive up to £3,000 per month (dependent on size), and are eligible for payment after two weeks of closure.  

• Properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or less will receive grants of £667 per two weeks of closure (£1,334 per month) 

• Properties with a rateable value of £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive grants of £1,000 per two weeks of closure (£2,000 per month) 

• Properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or over will receive grants of £1,500 per two weeks of closure (£3,000 per month). 

Eligibility criteria: 

• This fund is only for social sector organisations: charities and social enterprises that are improving people’s lives across the UK. Any applicants need to be able to meet what is set out in Big Society Capital's governance principles. This includes charities, community interest companies and community benefit societies – organisations that are not one of these legal forms (i.e. just a company limited by guarantee or company limited by shares) will need to demonstrate social objects / purpose in their Articles. 

• Eligible applicants will: 

• be included on the list of qualifying entities (see Appendix 1 in the Fund Guidelines). 

• if a Company Limited by Guarantee or a Company Limited by Shares, have Social Objects in its Articles. 

• have been operating for a minimum of two years. 

• have a minimum turnover of £400k. 

• have a turnover of less than £45m (whole group – if applicable). 

• have more than 50% of income from trading activity (whole group – if applicable). This eligibility criteria does not apply to registered charities and further education colleges. 

• trade in the UK and the loan will be used to support trading in the UK. 

• be able to confirm that the organisation has been adversely impacted by COVID-19. 

• be able to demonstrate that the organisation has a “viable” business proposition. 

• be able to demonstrate that the organisation was not an “undertaking in difficulty” as at 31 December 2019. 

• be able to demonstrate that outcomes of the product or services provided are specifically relevant to improving people’s lives, even if improving people’s lives is a secondary outcome area of your organisation. 

Bounce Back Loan Scheme: Scheme help small to medium sized businesses affected by coronavirus to apply for loans between £2,000 and £50,000 The Government will guarantee 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months. Loan terms will be up to 6 years. No repayments will be due during the first 12 months. The Government will work with lenders to agree a low rate of interest for the remaining loan period. Organisations that have already received a loan of up to £50,000 under CBILS can transfer it to the Bounce Back Loan scheme, this can be arranged with a lender until 4 November 2020. 

Eligibility criteria: 

• Business has been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic 

• was not a business in difficulty at 31 December 2019 (if it was, you must confirm your business complies with additional state aid restrictions under de minimis state aid rules) 

• is engaged in trading or commercial activity in the UK and was established by 1 March 2020 

• is not using the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) or the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility Scheme (CCFF), unless the Bounce Back Loan will refinance the whole of the CBILS, CLBILS or CCFF facility 

• is not in bankruptcy or liquidation at the time it submits its application for finance 

• derives more than 50% of its income from its trading activity (this requirement does not apply to charities or further-education colleges) 

• is not in a restricted sector (i.e. credit institution, public sector organisation, state-funded primary and secondary school) 

The Government has published guidance for organisations working in specific sectors which might be relevant to SIB customers, these can be accessed below: 

• Guidance for the charity sector 

• COVID-19 guidance for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations 

• Financial support for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to respond to Covid-19 

• Guidance for employers and businesses on coronavirus 

• Guidance for social or community care and residential settings 

• Guidance for education settings 

• Guidance for public bodies or local authorities on procurement 

• Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do 

• Guidance on closing certain businesses and venues 

• Guidance on processing ticket refunds for cancelled charity events during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic 

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): increased risk of fraud and cybercrime against charities. 

• Guidance: A list of rules that have been temporarily relaxed to help businesses during the pandemic 

• Guidance for businesses seeking to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 

• Sector guidance on social distancing in the workplace during COVID-19 

Additional Resources and Advice 

• Bates Wells – Coronavirus Legal Insights for charities and social enterprises 

• Charity Bank – COVID-19 Resource Hub for Charities and Social Enterprises 

• Charity Excellence Framework – COVID-19 Funder Database & Toolkits 

• Charity Finance Group – COVID-19 guidance for charities 

• Charity Tax Group – Coronavirus Information Hub 

• Cooperatives UK – COVID-19 advice for co-ops 

• Fundraising Regulator – COVID-19 public fundraising guidance 

• Institute of Fundraising – COVID-19 Guidance 

• Locality – COVID-19 information and support hub 

• NCVO – Coronavirus guidance and resources 

• SEUK – Coronavirus support and resources