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Having spoken to many businesses over the last 10 months we have found that, understandably, people have struggled with the impact the pandemic and everything that has come with it has had on their mental health.
As we find ourselves in the third period of national lockdown, you might be worried about how you and those you love will cope. We have put together some useful and important links that we would love you to read and share amongst friends, families, employers and employees (maybe even stick them up in a communal space if you are still in the office):
- Cumbria County Council have put together an interactive map which helps find local support who can offer advice and help - including obtaining essential food and medicine supplies, during the COVID-19 pandemic https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/
- You will also find a comprehensive alphabetical list of mental health and wellbeing charities throughout the county https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/coronavirus/charities.asp
- The county council can also offer help surrounding all sorts of welfare, health and social care needs. With quick links to contacts who can help with debt advice, free school meals and legal support https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/welfare/
- Check out the Suicide Prevention Network in the North West and North East website, which has easily printable material on how to speak to someone in distress http://www.stopsuicidenenc.org/campaign-toolkit/
- Every Life Matters has produced a COVID 19 Wellbeing and Mental Health booklet and a Working from home guide - https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/covid-19/
- Leapers supports the mental health of freelancers and the self-employed and they have put together lots of resources which can help everyone, including ‘Working well during lockdown – Winter Edition’ guide https://www.leapers.co/resources/little-guides/coronavirus-working-from-home/#chapter2
- If you need to talk to someone the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 or online at samaritans.org.
- Mindline Cumbria offers support and guidance about mental health over the phone on 0300 561 000 or text ‘Mind’ to 810666. You can also go online and chat to trained professionals at mindlinecumbria.org
- Togetherall is a service offering free online support to anyone aged 16 and over in north Cumbria facing increased anxiety and other mental health challenges. You can access Togetherall at togetherall.com It provides online peer-peer support, access to an anonymous community and lots of information, as well as courses and resources covering a range of mental health and wellbeing topics. The service can be accessed by registering with your postcode and logging in.
- Kooth is a free online service for young people over 11. Visit kooth.com
- The NHS has produced information on talking therapies and how you can access their help. To find help, click here to read more.
With the brilliant news of more and more vaccines being administered in the UK each day, please remember that the vaccine will only be available via the NHS. You will be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a GP surgery or pharmacy local to you, to receive your vaccine. If you are contacted by any other organisations please think before you act - it may be someone trying to take advantage of people in a desperate situation.
Remember, the vaccine is free of charge and you will never be asked for:
Bank account or card details
PIN or banking passwords
They will never arrive unannounced at your home
Ask for documentation to prove your identity e.g utility bills or passport.
Due to underspend from businesses already supported, The Cumbria Chamber of Commerce are able to offer a limited number of 100% Kickstart Tourism grants to tourism and retail businesses.
The grants are to be used to actively help businesses trade and survive during this challenging time and are to be used for COVID related activities, both 1-2-1 specialist advice and purchasing of minor equipment to help with diversification/delivery of services remotely directly in response to COVID 19. Grants do not cover PPE or consumables around social distancing and must be used for new projects.
Businesses looking to apply will need to be able to demonstrate a 40% loss of income due to COVID 19 between March – June 2020 compared with the same period in 2019 (income needs to include furlough payments and other government support received).
Grants need to be approved and money spent by the end of February and businesses need to apply for the full £3,000 where possible.
To register interest, please email info@cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk
Please be advised grants will be allocated on a first come first served basis and those who have previously applied cannot access another grant.
The Covid-19 pandemic has proven to be an immense challenge for communities across the country, and with being put into a third national lockdown, support for communities in need is more important than ever.
The National Business Response Network is asking businesses to come together to support those most in need. So far, they have connected hundreds of businesses with local community organisations across the UK, to harness the resources and expertise needed to help them build back in this difficult time - but there’s still more to do.
Whether it be donations to food banks or tech support for home learners, if your organisation can offer support, please call 0300 303 3993or visit their website.
There is still help out there to get businesses through this tricky time of post EU transition. Here are some links you may find useful:
The CLEP have put together a guide for employers, employees and businesses - click here to read. They also have also established their own EU Transition Team on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), to support our businesses to manage the end of the transition period. If you would like help, please contact Peter Fleming at info@thecumbrialep.co.uk
You can also contact the government’s Business Support Helpline for free advice by either calling their help line on 0800 998 1098 or emailing enquiries@businesssupporthelpline.org
The support line is open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.
The British Chamber of Commerce have put together a post-transition checklist to help you consider the changes that Brexit may bring to your firm. It is here to support business planning at both operational and Board levels. Click here to read.
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership are encouraging Cumbrian businesses to take up free bespoke advice to support them through 2021.
CLEP is offering free expert accountancy and legal support to the county’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), alongside more general advice on how businesses can prepare to survive and thrive during 2021.
Advice is also available on how to access the various grants schemes available from Government, including the £4.6 billion package of lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak this week.
CLEP is providing this service hand-in-hand with local professional service firms and other advisory organisations to ensure that the service meets the need of the individual business.
Anyone interested in accessing support can contact CLEP Project Manager Helen Atherton on 07791 804031 or via e-mail at helen.atherton@thecumbrialep.co.uk
Here is a small reminder that there is still time to claim your subsidised membership with the Federation of Small Businesses.
Firms throughout Allerdale Borough are to benefit from a support boost during the coronavirus pandemic. We are investing £10,000 to subsidise business memberships to the FSB. The offer is to the self-employed, micro and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Applications are now live and are being offered on a 'first come, first served' basis. Up to 200 businesses will be able to access the subsidised FSB membership.
It means businesses will benefit from a range of services, covering everything from legal help and advice to cyber protection and assistance to access funding opportunities.
https://www.fsb.org.uk/allerdale.html
To apply for the FSB membership offer, email nick.bradley@fsb.org.uk. Please make sure to use the words 'Allerdale Borough' in the subject line of the email.
Cumbria Action for Sustainability is hosting a webinar on how businesses can be part of the fight to reduce carbon emissions. This free event is aimed as businesses who are committed to playing their part, but are seeking inspiration, guidance and support to know how to achieve this step change. This event will be held on Tuesday 26th January 2021. Click here to register.
In the latest webinar by TheBusinessDesk.com in partnership with the Northern Powerhouses Investment Fund an expert panel will discuss not only the challenges to funding innovation in the North but the solutions they've found. Industry, innovation and investment in the North webinar on Thursday 28th January 2021. Click here to register
Department for International Trade North West have organised an event aimed at all businesses in automotive sector to help them access to new markets, market research, and how DIT and the NAA can support. The webinar will be held on Thursday 21st January 2021. Click here to register.
Lancaster University Management School is offering a new online peer-learning programme specifically designed to help Lancashire & Cumbrian SMEs innovate within their Business Model to build resilience and flexibility. Please note: this programme is aimed at ambitious leaders of established businesses who employ 3 or more members of staff. If you are interested in registering, please click here.
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