Dear Supporter of AF Association,
We are writing to seek your support in these troubled and unprecedented times.
As a charity we rely solely on donations, fundraising, grants and foundations. We receive NO government funding. Due to the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in, our funding has ceased, and with no income we will soon struggle to deliver our much-needed services. The government has included charities with business who can apply to furlough their staff, however this means that the staff can no longer work or even volunteer for the charity. We are certain the government did not mean for vital services to be lost whilst the people who can deliver these services sit at home with nothing to do. We are desperately doing all we can to make sure our support and services to you do not stop, but we need your help.
We are therefore seeking that the government review its guidance and where a charity is providing covid-related services and vital healthcare services, that they continue to work however are able to claim the equivalent of furlough via the government. We desperately do not want to furlough our staff and withdraw our services. Many of the staff would volunteer however it is illegal for them to do so under current guidance.
We ask you therefore to please e mail/write to your MP asking them to call upon government to amend their guidelines on who and how furlough applies so that we can continue to pay our staff, deliver our services and know that we are contributing to the fight against corona virus (COVID-19) and also lending our support to our amazing NHS and frontline workers. There is a template email/ letter on our website at heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
You can find the contact details for your local MP here members.parliament.uk/membe...
Please let us know if you do contact your MP and what response you receive.
If we all highlight this issue I am sure the government will realise the huge difference this could make to many thousands of charity workers and the expertise and service they provide.
Meanwhile stay safe – stay home and together we are strong.
Please remember our services are still available and more resources will soon be available on our web sites heartrhythmalliance.org You can also call our Helpline on 01789 867502
Thank you and we are here for you.
With all our love and support – stay safe, stay home – together we are strong.
Trudie Lobban
Founder and CEO, AF Association
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