Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Citizens UK launched a rapid listening campaign across its 450 member organisations, to identify the main concerns that local communities are facing in this unexpected new era of social distancing. Across UK regions and faith communities, a real sense of unpreparedness around digital technology emerged with community leaders attempting to teach themselves in a matter of just a few days how to live stream or host video calls in a bid both to meet the practical needs of their congregations and parishes – such as arranging phone calls for those who are isolated and food deliveries for the elderly – while also switching to online forms of worship as all three Abrahamic faiths prepared to mark Passover, Easter and Ramadan respectively.

Upcoming webinars

Our webinars so far:

• 2nd April - Faith, Coronavirus and Technology
  Joined by global experts in faith and digital technology from Facebook after a huge survey by Citizens UK of faith and community organisations laid bare the need for adaptation and digital skills sharing amongst institutions.
  
  
• 16th April - Developing Community Leaders in COVID-19
  Equip community leaders to organise and mobilise volunteers to help serve the wider community in COVID-19 – exploring best practice in relation to safeguarding, connecting with local statutory agencies, and leader support and development.
  
  
• 23rd April - Helping Communities to Deal with the Mental Health Crisis in COVID-19
  Training webinar by experts to give us the support we need to act as Mental Health Champions in our communities. 
  
  
• 30th April -  Communities Taking Action for Social Justice in COVID-19
  Training webinar to enable leaders to run local community organising campaigns to protect the poor and the marginalised – especially those most affected by the Lockdown
  
  
• 7th May - Organising Hard Money in our Citizens Alliances
  Training webinar aimed at leaders from CUK institutions and Leadership Teams on the importance of 'hard' money and membership dues.
  
  
• 14th May - Staying Relational - 1-2-1s and Listening in Lockdown
  Training webinar aimed at faith and community leaders on how to maintain a 'relational' culture and keep listening when we can't meet face-to-face.
  
  
• 21st May - Organising schools during COVID-19
  Training webinar aimed at leaders from the education sector, whether schools, colleges, universities or educational charities. 
  
  
• 28th May - Filling the Covid-shaped Hole in Your Organisation's Budget: How to Use Community Organising Techniques to Raise Money
  Training webinar aimed at faith and community leaders on how to use community organising techniques to raise money for their institution
  
  
• 4th June - Communities Taking Action for Social Justice in COVID-19 - Part 2: The Impact of Covid-19 on BAME Communities; and Living Wage for Careworkers
  
• 11th June - Summer Podcast Club - Changemakers: This is a Big Moment
  
  
• 18th June - Learning From Lockdown: What faith communities have learned about congregational life in COVID-19

• 25th June - Become a Community Sponsor and Welcome a Stranger: Apply Now to Resettle a Refugee Family in 2021

• 2nd July - Dealing with Grief and Bereavement in a pandemic

• 9th July - Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope: A Person-Centred Planning Tool that can help you, your family and community map a path towards a hopeful future

• 16th July -  The impact of Covid-19 on Women