COVID-19

This page covers all the areas for which customers can access support from the government and the wider sector in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information on the measures detailed below, visit the dedicated government guidance on support for businesses here.

This page will be updated regularly to reflect any new developments or announcements. If you have any questions please contact Will Thomson (will.thomson@sibgroup.org.uk) or Anissa Morris (anissa.morris@sibgroup.org.uk)

National Covid Guidance

England has moved to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant. Everyone should be cautious while managing the risks as cases of COVID-19 remain high. Find out what you should do to protect yourself and others.

Businesses and venues

The Plan B changes in restrictions mean that face coverings are required by law in some public indoor settings such as cinemas and shops.

Certain venues and events are required by law to check the COVID tstatus of customers using teh NHS COVID PASS or other accepted proof.

All capacity limits at sporting, entertainment, or business events have been lifted.

Hospitality venues such as pubs, restaurants and bars are no longer required to provide table service or follow other social distancing rules.

All businesses should follow the principles set out in the working safely guidance.

The Government currently recommends that office workers who can work from home should do so.

Government Business Support

Summary of existing economic support: overview of Government support for business and self-employed people during coronavirus.

Coronavirus Guidance and Support: full collection of guidance and support for businesses during Covid-19.

Support Finder Tool: The Government has a support finder tool to help charities, businesses and self-employed people across the UK to determine what financial support is available to them during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Check if your retail, hospitality or leisure business is eligible for business relief rates due to COVID-19:   On 5 January 2021, The Chancellor has announced £4.6 billion in new one-off lockdown grants will be made available to support businesses and protect jobs through to the Spring. Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure will not have to pay business rates for the 2020-2021 tax year.

You're eligible if your property is a:

• Shop
• Restuarant, Cafe, Bar or Pub
• Cinema or Live music venue
• Assembly or Leisure property- for example, a sports club, a gym or a spa
• Hospitality prooperty- for example, a hotel, a guest house or self-catering accomodation

Your local council will apply the discount automatically. 

Additional Restrictions Grant: Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) provides local councils with grant funding to support businesses that are severly impacted by coronavirus restrictions and the rise of the Omicron variant, when most needed. Funding was first made available in financial year 2020-2021 and can be used across 2021-2022. However, local authoriies are encoraged to distribute funding to businesses which require support as soon as possible. Businesses should visit their local council’s website to find out how to apply.

Local councils are encouraged to support:

• in allocating teh first ARG top up payment: businesses from all sectors that may have been severely impacted by restrictions but were not eligible for the LRSG and CBLP Grant schemes
• in allocating the second 2 ARG top-up payments: businesses from all sectors that may have been severely impacted by restrictions but were not eligible for the Restart Grant scheme, and those sectors that remained closed or were severely impacted by extended restrictions, even if those businesses had already been in receipt of Restart Grants
• in allocating the third ARG top-up payment: businesses severely impacted by the rise of the Omicron variant

Kickstarter Scheme: this scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16-24-year olds on Universal Credit. Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers 100% of National Minimum Wage / National Living Wage for 25 hours per week for 6 months; associated employer National Insurance contributions; and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.

Financial Support for Charities and Social Enterprises
 

Grants Online Coronavirus: comprehensive resource that is regularly updated with new funding programmes to assist organisations in responding to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Government Guidance for Organisations

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
• Co-operatives UK Covid-19 HR Advice
• 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