Good afternoon folks! 

Many of us will be doing anti-racist work within our organisations to create more equitable and inclusive workplace cultures. We know this work is important and overdue, that it can impact the wellbeing of People of Colour and Black colleagues, and there are a host of things that senior leaders, managers and peers can do to support colleagues at this time. Mental Health First Aid England, with support from Business in the Community and the Chartered Management Institute has published some advice on the issue which you can find here: https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/news...olleagues/

To apply for a bounce back loan, you'll need to contact a bank directly and fill in a short online application. All banks charge the same 2.5% annual interest (after the first 12 months at 0%). Currently the last date to apply for a loan is [b]4 November 2020[/b].

For more options on access to emergency finance for social enterprises and charities https://www.goodfinance.org.uk/investors-advisors

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) - The Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund which closes for applications on 30th September 

How can you assess the health of your business + identify how to sustain or grow during a crisis?

Money matters it goes without saying so having a good handle on your management accounts and cash flow is key. There are a number of tools which may be helpful:

• https://www.vcsestrengthchecker.org.uk/about - general review
  
• https://www.goodfinance.org.uk/wizard/profiler - is repayable finance an option
  
• https://www.goodfinance.org.uk/understan...s-consider - some other free resources 
  
  

www.goodfinance.org.uk mission is to be the single trusted source of information on social investment for charities and social enterprises.is the best source of trusted and independent information for social enterprises and charities

What digital tools should you avoid and which kill your focus? Is there a better way of maintaining communications with colleagues without feeling zoomed out?

i.e tackle poverty, loneliness etc.?

I've seen lots of opposing views. What's your view Ben?

Hello - Nice to meet you all. I'm Ben, Managing Director of Reason Digital (https://reasondigital.com/) - a design agency that uses digital to solve problems that actually matter.

Would like to ask if anyone is seeing the build back better movement as an opportunity to build in better diversity and inclusion practices, and if so how are you doing so?

I'll be on the forum live tomorrow at 11am, so would appreciate hearing about others approaches

Ben

Hello - Nice to meet you all. I'm Ben, Managing Director of Reason Digital (https://reasondigital.com/) - a design agency that uses digital to solve problems that actually matter.

Would like to ask if anyone has recruited / onboarded a new employee during lockdown? We've done so but found it was a more difficult process than we'd first thought, especially in terms of replicating some of the more 'intangible' parts of onboarding (team lunches, after work drinks etc.)

I'll be on the forum live tomorrow at 11am, so please feel free to share your experiences

Ben

Hello - Nice to meet you all. I'm Ben, Managing Director of Reason Digital (https://reasondigital.com/) - a design agency that uses digital to solve problems that actually matter.

Due to the nature of our mission we do the vast majority of our work with charity partners - many of whom are starting to deliver their services online. One thing that we preach is that digital services shouldn't just seek to replicate offline services, but should be re-imagined and re-designed to take advantage of the unique opportunities digital can offer.

I'll be on the forum live tomorrow at 11am, would be interested in any on the forum are having thoughts along these lines in terms of their own businesses?

Ben