Local businesses and charities in Suffolk are being encouraged to collaborate as part of a county-wide campaign to help more organisations respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Volunteering Matters and Community Action Suffolk have joined forces to match local charities and businesses together to ensure needs are met and businesses are able to help by offering services to voluntary organisations.

The organisations said demand for charity and voluntary sector services 'has already begun to soar' in the region, and companies based locally 'could play a vital role through delivering specific resource or skills.'

They have urged charities to declare what their individual needs are and for business leaders to step forward with help in areas such as planning, IT, legal advice, logistics and media relations.

Volunteering Matters said it has already engaged with around 50 companies, who are able to offer services ranging from vehicle supply to project management.

“At this time of crisis, collaboration has never been so important. That’s why we are working closely with our friends at Community Action Suffolk to share our knowledge, resources and business connections to get help safely to where it is needed most in our great County," Volunteering Matters director of business development and impact, Stephen Skeet said.

Charities seeking support where businesses may be able to help are being asked to describe their needs in a survey by Volunteering Matters. Businesses can also use the survey to detail how they may be able to help.

The survey can be found here.

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