How micro organisations are responding to the COVID-19 crisis

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a sudden and dramatic change in everyone’s way of life. As the UK lockdown continues, we’ve seen the importance of communities coming together to support one another and those most vulnerable. With this in mind, we contacted the micro organisations we met during our research to find out how they are coping and responding to the crisis.

In this post, we’ll share the key ways micro organisations are being impacted, highlighting specific needs and challenges faced by different segments. (For an introduction to our segmentation, please see our previous blog post.)

Micro organisations are playing a crucial role in local aid responses

Being deeply embedded within their communities and having strong networks, we heard that micro organisations are playing a key role in coordinating and activating the local crisis response.

Core needs support groups and community hubs already work with vulnerable people in their communities. Therefore, they’ve been able to use their knowledge to help local governing bodies and statutory services to identify those most in need of assistance.

We heard from Eddie, Kirkton Larder, that the local government is taking over the larders’ role and setting up hubs to distribute provisions around Dundee. Although the local council received a list of people potentially in need of food from the NHS, they also got in touch with Eddie to ask for his input, acknowledging that he is one of the people who knows the community best. They are currently using Eddie’s network to ensure deliveries are making it to the most vulnerable.

Highly networked micro organisations, especially community hubs and collective action groups, are also helping directly with aid efforts by providing services or resources to vulnerable people, often mobilising their existing volunteer base.

“We’re coordinating volunteers to deliver emergency food/essentials parcels to those who have been told to isolate — some 1,000 people in our community so it’s quite a challenge.” — Cath, Pontarddulais Partnership

While micro organisations are well placed to help in their communities, doing so is not without significant challenges. They are rarely receiving any funding to support their continued or additional efforts. With many people self-isolating, micro organisations have reduced volunteer numbers, particularly as they often rely on older people who are more vulnerable to the virus. The volunteers who remain are at risk of burnout from responding to the increased needs of the community.

Micro organisations have been forced to stop their normal activities

This has huge implications for many organisations’ survival as they have lost any income streams they might be relying on (e.g. charity shops and cafes) and most do not have financial reserves to buffer the impact. Additionally, many will still have continued overheads to pay which adds to the financial burden.

Community hubs tend to have the largest overheads of all the segments as they often have to pay rent, utility bills and salaries.

The Bethel Trust are normally a self-sustaining charity, supporting themselves through their charity shop sales and local donations. However, since the coronavirus outbreak, this income has disappeared.

“We have no income whatsoever now, so that poses something of a problem! Our usual income streams: selling recycling, charity shop, individual donations, have all stopped because we are closed. Utility bills and mortgage payments are ongoing, so that’s our biggest challenge at the moment.” — Liz

Personal development micro organisations usually pay skilled practitioners to run their activities. With these on hold, organisations face a difficult decision around whether to continue supporting these salaries.

Glantawe Outdoor Education Centre has elected to keep paying their staff throughout the crisis despite the financial strain this brings, recognising they are a precious resource without whom they wouldn’t exist. They’ve asked funders for flexibility to reallocate existing grant money to do so.

Micro organisations are working to adapt their services — leading to a complete reversal in their need for digital tools and digital ways of working

In our original research, digital issues were outweighed by other more fundamental challenges. However, this has changed considerably since physical distancing measures have come into effect — digital tools have become vital for micro organisations to continue to function during this time. This has brought with it a need to learn new digital skills and online tools.

For lived experience support groups, providing ongoing emotional support to their members is crucial. Many have switched to digital or phone-based channels to ensure this continuity of support.

“At present we do one to one contact via the phone we have now put in place so the office will be opened behind closed doors and phone lines open for anyone to contact us from Monday to Friday 12pm to 4pm. This we hope will help sufferers over this period of time.” — Patricia, Me4Mental

Shared interest groups have been finding creative ways to connect members around their interests online, while some personal development organisations have been finding ways to run their activities or spread their teachings virtually.

“I’ve been keeping in touch and connecting everyone as best I can, I’ve set up a private Facebook page for those online — we’re sharing videos, voice recordings, pictures etc of self-care tips, fun stories, singing, which is just so uplifting and brilliant! Also planning an online quiz and singing group.” — Claire, Just Bee

“I have plans to create a virtual choir. I am investigating the most appropriate technology platforms that will support good quality levels of sound and video. This remote connection is one way of keeping isolation manageable for people.” — Siobhan, Momentum Community Choir

“We’re increasing our Facebook posts, and encouraging people to sow a few extra seeds at home to keep some plants going for when we can get back to the garden. Anything to keep people connected with the garden.” — Helena, Ninewells Community Garden

Community infrastructure organisations are in a position to potentially support other organisations through this time.

Liverpool SOUP is planning a virtual version of their crowdfunding event. They are specifically looking to fund grassroots projects or ideas which can inspire and engage communities remotely, thereby acting to support others to adapt to the current circumstances.

Now, more than ever, micro organisations need support as they face a huge challenge to their existence. With many people relying on them to meet essential physical and social needs, these groups are a key component of communities and wider civil society. Through this research, we have been able to provide TNLCF, and the wider third sector, with insights into the needs and challenges of micro organisations around the UK.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all those who took part in and contributed to this research.

Micro organisations possess the local knowledge and social capital to provide essential support to local governing bodies during the coronavirus outbreak, helping to coordinate the local response and identify the most vulnerable people within communities.

For those looking to work with micro organisations, we have compiled a research toolkit which outlines ways to identify and contact these small scale community groups. Our research findings and recommendations are available in our final report.