In 2020, Save Latin Village lead a frontline emergency response to COVID-19 with approximately thirty volunteers, the majority were recruited from the financial sector in the City of London. There were seven teams focusing on different challenges such as irregular migration status, food insecurity, digital exclusion, and housing. One of the teams was dedicated to research in order to inform public policy which led to the submission of three reports recommendations about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minorities to the UN, UK Women and Equalities Committee, and the review led by Baroness Doreen Lawrence.
Also, researchers investigated barriers to access to COVID-19 governmental financial initiatives and the challenges faced by the charitable sector due to significantly elevated levels of demand, for UK’s Hispanic community working in conjunction with registered charity Latin Elephant and the Seven Sisters Market Tenants Association (SSMTA).
7 AVENUES OF SUPPORT
1. Universal Credit is a payment to help with living costs such as rent, food, etc
2.Food Banks and Mutual Aid
3.Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)
4.Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme “furlough”
5.Small Business Grant Funding (SBGF)
6.Cash Grant for Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure (CGRHL)
7. Coronavirus Bounceback Loan
HARINGEY COUNCIL – LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT
A grant form can be completed online or emailed to covidsmallbusinessgrant@haringey.gov.uk
For further guidance visit the Latin Elephant covid-19 webpage
HARINGEY COUNCIL – LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT call 020 8489 4431
“If you are concerned about the impact of the coronavirus on your money, access to essential items or access to the support you need, please call our Connected Communities line – tel: 020 8489 4431. This line is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 6.30pm.”
TOTTENHAM MUTUAL AID WHATSAPP GROUP
TOTTENHAM FOOD BANK
SEARCH FOR OTHER LOCAL MUTUAL AID GROUPS
OTHER UK LATIN AMERICAN CHARITIES OFFERING HELP DURING COVID-19
1. Latin American Women’s Aid (LAWA) domestic violence
2. Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS)
3. Latin American House – immigration, residency, general assistance
4. IRMO – benefits advice, counselling, youth and guidance, support for families
5. Latin American Disabled Persons Project
6. South London Community Support Covid-19 – and Translators
This group shares information in Spanish and Portuguese to the South London community, in order to make it easier for non-English speakers to access the support groups already established to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
7. United Voices of the World – worker rights