Community Champions to give Covid19 Vaccine advice and boost take up

OVER ₤23 million funding has been allocated to 60 Councils and voluntary groups across England to expand work to support those most at risk from Covid19 and boost vaccine take up, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced on 25 January 2021. Through the Community Champions scheme Councils and voluntary organisations will deliver a wide range of measures to protect those most at risk; building trust, communicating accurate health information and ultimately helping to save lives. This will include developing new networks of trusted local champions where they don't already exist.

The funding is specifically targeted at areas with plans to reach groups such as:- older people, disabled people, and people from ethnic minority backgrounds who according to the latest evidence are more likely to suffer long term impacts and poor outcomes from Covid19. Each of the 60 Councils have developed their own plan to improve communications with these groups including:- Helplines, School programmes, workplace engagement, phoning those in at risk groups, as well as training sessions to help people provide information and advice.

The Community Champions will tap into their local networks to provide advice about Covid19 and the vaccines. Champions will also work with Councils to identify barriers to accessing accurate information and to provide tailored support, such as phone calls for people who are digitally excluded, helplines, and linking to GP Surgeries.

The funding will also support areas to tackle misinformation and encourage take up as the vaccination programme expands across the country. This builds on wider, cross Government measures to engage communities to tackle the disproportionate impact the Pandemic has had on certain groups and to provide accurate information about Covid19 and the vaccines to everyone.  This is part of over ₤7.9 billion Government funding provided to Councils to help them support their communities during the Pandemic.

Communities Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:- "It is vital that everyone has access to accurate and up to date information about Covid19. False information about Covid19 Vaccines could cost lives. Today's funding will help Councils and community groups expand some of the excellent work already underway and reach out to their communities to ensure they have the information they need and get their questions answered. Ultimately this funding will help save lives."

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said:- "Throughout the Pandemic, our priority has been to protect the most vulnerable. It is vital higher risk groups are able to access the advice and information they need whether it's about testing, accessing the NHS or the benefits of a lifesaving vaccine. I'm delighted to see further funding going to local areas to support their communities during this challenging time, and I'm thankful for the continued expertise and dedication of community leaders in spreading the word about our historic vaccination rollout programme across the country."

Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi said:- "We want all communities to take up the offer of a free vaccine and I have been working closely with faith and community leaders to ensure those who may be at higher risk of harm from this virus know how they can benefit from a vaccine. The expansion of the Community Champions scheme will help everyone get the advice and information they need about Covid19 Vaccines. Community Champions are already in place across many areas of England, and in Birmingham have proved effective in helping communities understand what they need to do to stay safe."

Cllr Paulette Hamilton, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, for Birmingham County Council said:- "We've seen great success in Birmingham with our community champions network with it helping us reach identified gaps and those sometimes harder to reach communities across the City. Champions are supported through regular live Q&A sessions allowing them to gain access to the latest advice and guidance that is accessible to those with various disabilities and language barriers to share amongst our communities. We also provide the opportunity for them to share their insights and concerns and encourage and welcome 2 way communications to help inform local strategy and delivery."

Throughout the Pandemic, the Government has prioritised protecting the most vulnerable in our society and have invested more than ₤4 million into research on ethnic disparities in Covid19, so that we can go further.

Many different communities will be supported, including:- Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, people with learning disabilities, as well as faith groups. Champions will be drawn from these groups to share accurate health information with their neighbours, networks, and wider community.

2 charities, Strengthening Faith Institutions and Near Neighbours, will be supporting Councils in working with grass root organisations and community leaders, to ensure that communities understand how the Pandemic is being tackled and feel empowered to take action to keep themselves safe.

Welcome relief as late filing penalties waived until March 2021

THE Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) have welcomed the announcement from HMRC that self assessment late filing penalties will be waived for returns filed before 1 March 2021. The deadline for 2019 to 2020 self assessment returns is 31 January 2021. Normally, a return filed after this date would attract an automatic ₤100 late filing penalty. HMRC have announced that they will waive this penalty; provided that returns are filed electronically on or before 28 February 2021.

The change mirrors the request from the CIOT and ATT, and similar requests from other bodies, for leniency given the difficulties faced by agents and taxpayers as a result of the Pandemic. These problems were enhanced when the latest lockdown was introduced this month. While HMRC had always said that taxpayers issued with late filing penalties would have their penalties quashed where they had been unable to file on time due to Coronavirus, appealing penalties would have meant more work for agents, taxpayers and HMRC.

John Barnett, Chair of the CIOT's Technical Policy and Oversight Committee, said:- "We are pleased that HMRC are implementing our recommendation not to issue late filing penalties for self assessments returns filed before 1 March 2021, but it remains important that anyone who can file their return on time by 31 January 2021 does so. This is a relaxation on the 1st late filing penalty only. Taxpayers are still expected to pay their tax by 31 January 2021, even if only an estimated figure, to avoid interest accruing."

Jon Stride, Co-chair of ATT's Technical Steering Group, said:- "We welcome HMRC's change of heart as it takes some of the pressure off taxpayers, their agents and HMRC at this difficult time. However, it is still important to file on time if possible and taxpayers should ensure their agent has all the required information to file the return promptly and pay the tax due. It is even more important to get the return in as soon as possible where a taxpayer is struggling to pay. HMRC's enhanced Time to Pay arrangements3 which will allow taxpayers to spread their bills over the next 12 months are only available to taxpayers who have filed their tax returns. Taxpayers within the tax credits system should make a particular effort to file on time if they have not reported their final income figures to the Tax Credits Office as that deadline remains 31 January 2021."