Posted on 24 March 2020
March 24 - Please see the latest CID newsletter here for all updates for today
Let us know any updates from your organisation
FAQ from INGOs
Let us know your questions and we will try and find out answers for you. Email questions to office@cid.org.nz
- Can INGOs be counted as ‘essential services’ so we can continue fundraising and mail outs?
At the moment this is not clear, but the list of essential services is not fixed and CID will continue to follow up MFAT and others to make the case that INGOs need to fundraise to be in a position to respond in the Pacific. Check the newsletter for updates from MSD.
- Are INGOs eligible to access the leave and wage subsidies from the government?
INGOs can access the leave and sick pay extensions for staff and even contractors – as long as each person is legally employed. All indications are that if INGOs fit the criteria, they can apply for the wage subsidy too (eg they can prove they have lost 30% of revenue compared with the same time last year. Check the CID COVID-19 updates for contacts and links to follow up directly on behalf of your organisation.
CID members update
Global Development Group has temporarily ceased all non-essential travel – both international and domestic – and all our project administrators and volunteers have cancelled their trips, returned home, or are in the process of returning home to then enjoy two weeks of self-isolation ‘holidays’.
Our volunteer staff are continuing to work from home, with connectivity through normal work email, and with back office support from our Australian office.
Habitat have developed contingency plans, devised systems that will allow our staff to work from home, and halted all overseas travel arrangements for now.
“We have made the difficult decision to cancel all Global Village builds until June and continue to support our regional offices with information and resources,” says CEO Alan Thorpe.
VSA has temporarily paused all overseas programmes and is in the process of bringing all volunteers back to NZ. Most have now returned and are being placed in self-isolation.
A full working from home trial was undertaken, and the Wellington office is moving to reduced staffing from next week with a number of staff working remotely. All have connectivity through normal work e-mail.
The Tearfund team will prepare from this Monday to Wednesday to close the office from Thursday 26 March and staff will work from home.
“We will spend the next three day preparing to run all Tearfund’s services to supporters largely without the office from Thursday,” says CEO Ian McInnes
Everyone is now working from home and our offices are closed.
"We are working on how we can support social enterprises to be resilient at this time and looking at how we can pivot our immediate priorities towards solutions that keep New Zealand's growing social & community enterprise sector strong,” says CEO Louise Aitkin.
Staff are working from home now.
Cancelled their twice-yearly National Council face to face meeting over this weekend, but held it very successfully on Google Hangouts with 23 attendees from Prague to Christchurch. The office is closed and President Peter Nichols is working remotely from home.
The Save the Children team tested working from home on Friday and will work from home until further notice.
"My main goal is to keep staff safe, support our donors in this time, and provide resources for parents (and government) through our website,” says CEO Heidi Coetzee.
Most of the Childfund team are now working from home and by tomorrow the physical office will be closed until further notice. Staff will work from home, and remain in close contact with their partners, in particular their team in Kiribati, and they are preparing for any response in Tarawa.
“We’re striving to maintain business as usual. It’s important we remain flexible and resilient including supporting our people (partners, staff, donors, communities) as much as we can. Our purpose and mission are unchanged. Our compassion for each other will get us through this uncertain time,” says CEO Paul Brown.
CBM will trial 2 days this week of staff working from home (with some compulsory due to recent travel or medical preconditions). Aim to have no more than 25% of staff present at any one time. The office is not closing. Calls will be redirected to staff phones. Priorities are (1) Staying on top of Covid-19 preparedness (2) finishing submissions for Manaaki and starting other projects (3) fundraising and major donor work before the end of FY.
WWF will be closing their office at the end of today, and all working for home thereafter. Luckily they had instigated a trial 'work from home Fridays' since November last year, with the following platforms up and running to communicate with each other:
- Zoom
- Slack
- Asana
From now on they will have a 15 minute morning check-in meeting at 9 am for the whole organisation. And also set up fun Zoom sessions around lunchtimes, eg what to cook, how to play the guitar, meditate or filet a fish!
Counselling Services
Family and Community Services National Directory: 0800 211 211 (This helpline will transfer you to other appropriate services)
Youthline: Call: 0800 376 633 Text: 234 Email: talk@youthline.co.nz
Or webchat at www.youthline.co.nz (webchat available 7pm – 11pm)
The Low Down (support for young people experiencing depression or anxiety) www.thelowdown.co.nz or Text 5626
Lifeline 24/7 Helpline: 0800 543 354
Mental health Crisis team: 0800 754 477
Need to talk: Free call/ TXT – 1737
Samaritans: 0800 726 666
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or TXT 4202. Email: www.depression.org.nz
Kidsline: 0800543754
Parent help: 0800 568 856
Hagar staff will be working from home after this week, and programmes have changed to cease person to person contact, and shift to phone and social media contact.