TEMPO’S COVID REPSONSE
As for many charities and voluntary organisations Covid-19 saw us having to change the way that we work.
During the initial phase of lockdown many of the organisations in our earn network ceased utilising volunteers due to risks of specific activities and/or needed to significantly change volunteer’s role to comply with lockdown and protect volunteers. Similarly, our spend venues were forced to close to the public. At the same time, we witnessed an upsurge in collective action as communities mobilised in mutual aid groups and an unprecedented increase in people offering to volunteer to support the NHS and care organisations. Tempo rapidly refocused its delivery approach reviewing, how our assets and strengths, as an organisation, could be utilised to support communities and local responses to COVID 19 and the associated lockdown. We did this to support the national response and community action. We did this to be supportive to our commissioning organisations, community groups and volunteers. We developed our support and developed new, exciting offers, which address the ongoing crisis and now the ongoing national recovery. Inspired by communities coming together at this time to help one another, Tempo developed:
- a new online platform to host ways for people to stay well and connected during the crisis
- a series of national thematic online forums drawing in experts and practitioners nationwide
- a range of e-learning modules available to our network of voluntary organisations particularly civic organisations that may not have had the know how or infrastructure to adapt.
Drawing on our extensive experience of developing networks, cross sector partnerships and communities across England and Wales, Tempo launched a programme of successful virtual thematic sessions to support our networks during COVID-19. From April to July 2020, we delivered 31 national forums and webinars attended by voluntary, community and statutory organisations across our national network. Responding to our invitation to build collaboration, capacity and community engagement, over 580 attendees have shared learning, resources and fostered new connections.
All three of the new services developed in response to the crisis were well received by organisations.
Tempo will continue to test new approaches and projects to support communities during the COVID-19 recovery phase.
