Covid-19 pandemic
The Coronavirus pandemic lockdowns have caused great disruption to business and finance.
Companies have had to adapt to the inconveniences caused. Since May 2020, all LGCF meetings and training sessions have been held via a Microsoft Teams. This has enabled the Forum to continue its business and become more efficient and cost effective. Using this new technology has been a good learning curve.
In-depth updates on how the Longhurst Group Business Strategy had been adapted to counteract the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and to protect the business during 2020 and the effect upon the Improving Lives 2025 strategy were presented to the LGCF. Changes include:
- Offices closed to the public
- Colleagues working from home wherever possible
- Offices made Covid-19 safe for use by essential colleagues
- Workload increase in care and support sector resulting in redeployment of colleagues into this area rather than being furloughed
- General housing repairs reduced to essential and safety compliance works
- Non-essential repairs carried out by appointment only (90 days plus)
- Annual boiler servicing still being carried out
- Void works and lettings initially placed on hold
- Planned works limited
- Continuation of communal cleaning services with increased specification (deep clean) where there has been an outbreak of Covid-19
- Increase in customer communication regarding rent arrears and offering money advice services
- Housing Team initially carrying out wellbeing calls to over 65s and later rolled out to remaining Longhurst Group customers
- New Community Investment initiative launched, the Hardship Fund.
- Online wellbeing hub going live providing a virtual one-stop shop for a number of support services
- Further development around the Longhurst Group Improving Lives Community Investment Offer.