Good Afternoon IAC Members,
As you may expect or be experiencing yourself, we are seeing an increase in the demand for services in the third sector. To that end, IAC is assisting in a coordinated third sector response to COVID 19. We were approached by the Bank of Bermuda Foundation to assist with the coordination required to identify immediate essential needs for vulnerable persons and match them to Third Sector resources and emergency funding. This taskforce, the Third Sector Coordinated Crisis Response Team (CCRT) is being spearheaded by the Bank of Bermuda Foundation and the Bermuda Community Foundation and also includes the Bermuda Health Council (BHeC), Age Concern, and individuals Danielle Riviere (former Executive Director of Centre on Philanthropy) and Tina Nash (former Executive Director of Raleigh International Bermuda). The value of this group is that it brings collective efforts and energies together to support the capacity of the Third Sector, and therefore it is relevant for IAC to be a partner in this initiative.
The role of the CCRT so far has been as a connector, facilitating support and galvanizing resources. The main objective has been to ensure that those entities servicing the needs of the people most at risk, can continue to do so. We work in direct support of the EMO, and our efforts so far have been directed towards the priority areas identified by the EMO. To date, more than $100,000 has been allocated from emergency funds towards food security, nursing homes, domestic violence and access to mental health support. We have also produced a verified list of essential services (attached). Please circulate this to your clients and colleagues.
As the work of the CCRT continues, it will be reaching out to all nonprofits to better understand their needs and assess the impact of this crisis and the community lockdown. For more information and to stay informed on the CCRT efforts please follow the FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/ThirdSectorCoordinatedCrisisResponseEffort
Finally, an update on IAC’s internal activities. As a result of this crisis, IAC will be temporarily postponing training activities. We will look to reschedule all previously scheduled training as soon as possible. We will keep you informed.
Kind Regards,
Nicola Paugh,
Programme Coordinator