Working from home causes insurance confusion for millions of workers

1 week since millions of people across the UK were officially sent home to work, new research has revealed confusion on the impact this could have on their insurance. That's according to a new study from Confused.com, which found 44% of UK adults admit they are currently working from home, with a further 7% expecting to be sent home to work soon.

Millions of Brits have already set up office at home, with valuable laptops, monitors and other work materials taking over dining tables and:- 'spare rooms' across the nation. But do workers need to let their insurer know of this change in work pattern? This seems to be a confusion for more than 1 in 6 (16%) home workers, who don't know if they need to update their insurer about their working situation. But expert advice from Confused.com offers some peace of mind, as it suggests workers who have set up office at home during the Coronavirus outbreak will be covered on their insurance as it isn't their full time place of work.

However, this isn't the only concern home workers are facing. In fact, a further 1 in 8 (13%) are also unsure if their working equipment will be covered on their home policy. And more than 1 in 10 (11%) Brits are confused about if working from home is considered as:- "business use" on their home insurance. To clear up any confusion, Confused.com has created a catch all guide to answer common questions around working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic. According to the advice, there's very little those newly working from home need to do, as even their equipment will be covered by their business's insurance.

However, it isn't just insurance confusion which is concerning people working from home. In fact, 1 in 5 (21%) are worried about the impact of working from home on their social life. And 1 in 3 (33%) are concerned about the impact on their well being. But as the weeks pass, it's likely people will start to feel the effects of isolating at home, especially those living alone. To help people battle through any difficulties they may face, the NHS has provided some supportive advice to keeping well at home.

Although, for some home workers it isn't just themselves they have to worry about. In fact, 1 in 3 (31%) will have the tricky task of juggling their work while looking after their children. More than a third (35%) of these parents would need to change their work pattern to look after their children. Meanwhile, 28% will be working in shifts with their partners and other carers. However, not all parents have this flexibility, with nearly 2 in 5 (38%) sharing their concerns about how they will be able to look after their child and keep up with their work. 46% are also worried about how they will keep their children entertained. To relieve some of the pressure on working parents, Confused.com has some suggestions on activities for children to do to give parents some time to focus.

Jessica Willock, home insurance expert at Confused.com, says:- "We're living through unprecedented times, but we're all in this together, which is why we're listening to the concerns of people across the UK. We know that working from home is causing a lot of confusion for people who have recently been sent home to work. Naturally they'd expect to have to tell their insurer that their situation has changed, but this isn't the case. And we hope our guide is able to offer some clarity and peace of mind for any other concerns they may have."

What could your community do with ₤5,000?

NOW in its 4th year, leading off grid energy supplier, Calor, is once again calling on worthy rural community projects of all shapes and sizes to enter its Rural Community Fund for 2020 and be in with the chance of securing grants from its ₤85,000 fund pot.

Calor is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year and is marking the milestone by making this year's investment bigger than ever before, with a grand total of ₤85,000.

The competition, which opened for applications on 10 March 2020 and closes on 9 April 2020, enables rural communities who aren't connected to the mains gas grid the opportunity to apply for a grant of either ₤1,000, ₤2,500 or ₤5,000 for much needed projects, such as purchasing new equipment for community spaces or building new facilities for families nearby to enjoy.

Applicants will be listed on the Calor Rural Community Fund website and then encouraged to share their project as much as possible through social media to gain points. Those projects with the highest amount of points in each funding category will become shortlisted finalists, and will be reviewed by a Calor Committee before being announced as Finalists.

As the business continues to play an important role within Britain's countryside communities, this year's fund will mean that Calor has given ₤225,000 to grass roots causes since 2017, at a time where investment in local resources is especially tight.

Designed to offer rural communities that aren't connected to the mains gas grid a chance to win funding for initiatives which will improve local life, Calor's grants have already had a massive impact on over 50 heart warming projects.

Previous recipients include a community kitchen in Dover looking to combat loneliness, drama groups in Norfolk offering children a space to be creative and emergency rescue teams in Wiltshire who needed new life saving equipment.

Andy Parker, Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at Calor, said:- "At a time when investment in local communities and facilities is scarce, we are again showing our support and passion for countryside communities through the Calor Rural Community Fund. We are delighted to continue this scheme as it provides a much needed boost to rural life, and so we would urge any local projects that need funding for anything from a new roof to essential repairs to enter this year's fund."

To find out more about the Calor Rural Community Fund and how to enter, head to:- CommunityFund.Calor.Co.UK.

Local Government and Arts Council England launch collaboration to support cultural organisations

THE Coronavirus outbreak poses serious risks to the country's network of cultural organisations unless there is a joined up approach to supporting them. The  Local Government Association (LGA), which represents Councils within England and Wales, are collaborating with Arts Council England, the leisure and culture trust sectors, to help support cultural organisations to deal with the current situation. Arts and culture add more than ₤10.8 billion to the UK economy every year and by working together, Councils, national bodies and industry can ensure cultural services recover when the current crisis ends. Launched their statement 2 April 2020, the LGA, Arts Council England, Core Cities, Key Cities, the Culture and Leisure Officers Association (CLOA), Community Leisure UK (CLUK), London Councils, and the Rural Services Network, will align their support to work with all cultural organisations, share good practice and collect evidence, and make the case for culture and the future.

Cllr Gerald Vernon Jackson, Chair of the LGA's Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said:- "Unprecedented times require a joined up response. All our organisations and teams are struggling to make sense of a new world that poses severe risks to many of our crucial local cultural and creative organisations. Arts and culture add more than ₤10.8 billion to the UK economy each year and make our communities great places to live. It is important to extend any available support packages to include partners within it. By advancing payments, relaxing monitoring requirements, and offering letters of comfort, Councils across the country have been working closely with key partners to support vital cultural services for their communities. We are pleased to have been able to agree this joint statement with Arts Council England and our other partners about how we will work together to respond to this emergency. By working together, Councils, industry and the Government can ensure that every organisation and individual has the best chance of securing the support they need."

Laura Dyer, Deputy Chief Executive, Places and Engagement Executive, Arts Council England said:- "Every part of our cultural ecology is under threat. The Arts Council is responding quickly, with an Emergency Funding Package, but this can only be part of the solution. We are working with our partners in local Government and the broader voluntary sector to align our efforts. Our collaboration will be crucial to supporting our sector through the Coronavirus crisis. Culture is vital. It can help people and communities deal with the current situation, and it will play its part in the coming recovery."

The joint statement can be read here.