Urgent - Request for Holiday Accommodation Businesses to provide accommodation for vulnerable groups
We are making an urgent appeal for holiday accommodation providers to help by making accommodation available for vulnerable people.
During the national lockdown, and since, we have seen some incredible work across Wales to ensure that no-one is without a safe place and support during these difficult times. Thank you very much to those of you who have and are supporting us in this work – having access to suitable accommodation has undoubtedly helped to keep people safe and saved lives during the pandemic.
Welsh Government guidance remains unchanged; everyone should have accommodation which enables them to follow public health guidance on social distancing, hygiene and to self-isolate if necessary. However, we know that housing services are under severe pressure. In some areas, emergency accommodation is already at capacity and pressures are continuing.
We are therefore asking accommodation businesses across Wales whether they can assist Local Authorities in providing high quality emergency provision. Some businesses are already providing accommodation for vulnerable groups, which is hugely appreciated. However, the current challenge is to secure sufficient accommodation for people, many of whom will have been displaced as a result of the pandemic – this includes those who are experiencing homelessness or are threatened with homelessness, such as people who are no longer able to stay with family or friends, or individuals whose relationships have broken down.
Further funding is available to support Local Authorities to secure this vital accommodation and to provide the requisite support staff to ensure these people receive the appropriate wrap around support to address their needs. If supporting this work businesses will enter either a short or longer term contract with their Local Authority for the direct costs involved.
If you can help, please contact your Local Authority (LA) where we have provided a contact name and email address. Please provide details of the accommodation, which you could offer to house vulnerable people. We will require details of the number of rooms or units, type, location and how long you anticipate it will be available for.
Please provide a named contact in your business and a contact address email and telephone number.
We require assistance in the following areas and have provided the LA contact email in these areas for you to contact them direct.
Thank you again to those businesses that have provided us with support previously - we hope to secure the help of this industry once again for this important initiative.
Budget to build stronger, fairer, greener Wales
Welsh Government Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has today announced a 3 year budget to “support the Wales of today and shape the Wales of tomorrow.”
Supporting the Programme for Government, funding public services, responding to the climate and nature emergency, and building a fairer Wales are measures at the heart of the budget.
Over the next 3 years the Welsh NHS will be supported to provide effective, high quality and sustainable healthcare, and help in its ongoing response to and recovery from the pandemic, with an additional £1.3 billion in direct funding.
Future generations will also benefit from an additional £61 million in the Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee and employability support, apprenticeship provision, and to expand Personal Learning Accounts.
Additional economic support will be available for businesses with those in retail, leisure and hospitality receiving 50% non-domestic rates relief for 2022-23. This £116 million package of funding, combined with existing permanent relief schemes, will ensure that over 85,000 properties are supported in 2022-23. The funding includes £20m on top of the consequential funding received from the UK Government, and follows the Welsh Government providing business rate support above and beyond the offer from the UK government in this financial year. A further £35 million has been confirmed to freeze the non-domestic rates multiplier for 2022-23, ensuring there will be no increase in the amount of rates businesses are paying.
Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales.
Further details are available on:
Useful COVID-19 information
As each premises is different, businesses should read all guidance. This continues to be updated so please check back regularly for the latest information.
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Stay up to date with tourism industry news
We are committed to providing the support and assurance the business community needs during these unprecedented difficult times and have issued several Coronavirus (COVID-19) related bulletins which can be found on the Tourism Industry Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bulletins page.
Business Wales is providing businesses with tailored support and advice about dealing with coronavirus, from financial and supply chain planning to advice on staffing issues. We would advise Tourism businesses and stakeholders in Wales wanting specific guidance to visit the Business Wales website or call Business Wales helpline on 03000 6 03000, and to regularly visit the Public Health Wales website for up-to-date public health information for you, your staff and your visitors.
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