Covid-19 support – Page 3

How to have a party remotely

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or ringing in the New Year, it’s not always possible to do things in person. Being separated from family, friends and colleagues can be tough, especially during special occasions.

But, with technology, it is possible to share the good times together remotely, which has to be better than missing out completely!

Here are our top ideas on how to have a party remotely to inspire you for your next bash.

Send a care package

One of the best ways to let others know you’re thinking about them is to send a care package. When it comes to parties, there’s no reason why your parcel couldn’t include a tipple or two. You could even mix things up and nominate your friends to send each other a box to open on Zoom. From cocktails to fancy dress, you can have a lot of fun with this idea. Be sure to get plenty of screenshots!

Gaming tournament

While you can’t challenge your pals to a quick go on the Xbox, you can set up a remote tournament. There’s everything from Animal Crossing to Mario Kart and even old school classics like Monopoly that you can play remotely as a team. Grab a takeaway and some beers and your celebration is sorted. If you vote on your favourite games then it’s an ideal replacement for an office Christmas party too. You don’t even have to get dressed up!

Quiz night

Who doesn’t love a good quiz night? Nominate a host and invite as many people as you can. Make things interesting by asking each player to give £1 to the prize pot for the winner. You could even throw in some entertainment or a bit of TikTok dancing. We guarantee everyone will have a great laugh even if they lose!

Teleparty (Netflix Party)

Grab the popcorn as your trip to the cinema is now a Teleparty. Formally known as a Netflix party, it allows you to sync your movie streaming with your friends, and gives you the option to chat too. From old classics to the latest releases, it will help you keep in contact with loved ones even when miles apart. Don’t forget to order some cake for the celebration part!

Karaoke

Whether you’re a dancing queen or a single lady, put your hands up for some virtual karaoke. Lucky Voice Karaoke is offering a 14 day free trial of their software, which is more than enough for your party and several replays after that. Your next door neighbours in lockdown might not thank you for it, but you can be sure the evening will be a real success. Complete the party atmosphere with some crazy props and plenty of balloons in the background.

To sum up

Just because you aren’t able to be with everyone this year, it doesn’t mean to say you can’t have a great time. Whether you’re in lockdown or separated due to work, by trying one of the above ideas you can keep both the sense of togetherness and the party spirit going.

How to manage your business during a pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has proved to be a difficult experience for business owners across the globe. Lockdowns, restrictions and economic uncertainty have changed the way we do business beyond all recognition.

While there is so much about the situation we cannot control, something you can do is get organised about your next steps. Here are our top tips on how to manage your business during a pandemic to guide you.

Make sure everyone is on the same page

With so many restrictions in and outside of work, it can be tricky to keep up. Your employees are going to need clear guidance on whether they can continue working or not. This includes telling them everything they need to adhere to when at work such as social distancing guidelines. Or when they are expected to be brought back if on furlough.

Depending on the nature of your business, your employees may also be working from home at the moment. It can be quite confronting to adapt to a new way of working. Some employees may also have accessibility or childcare requirements to deal with too, so it’s good to ensure that everyone has what they need. That way, your business can continue to run as best as possible given the circumstances.

Have regular check-ins

Stress, not to mention the isolation, is a problem that all of us are facing to some degree. Especially as the pandemic has been dragging on for months now. Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, we all need to let off some steam. That’s why regular check-ins are essential to maintain mental health and strengthen workplace relationships.

Zoom and regular phone calls are a great outlet for this, as the conversation doesn’t always have to be about work. Even a quick 5-minute chat with your employees can make the world of difference, and you should encourage them to do the same with each other too. You’re not the only one feeling frustrated or anxious about the next few months, so don’t keep things to yourself. As a team, you are there to support each other.

Prepared to get flexible

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the approach to how we do business is crucial as to whether it can survive or not. For example, how restaurants have turned to serving take out food to generate a profit during the lockdown, as otherwise, they wouldn’t be bringing in any income. While it may not replace your regular earnings, being flexible is worth a shot especially as we don’t know how long the pandemic will last for.

Even though you may be entering into the unknown, it pays to get creative with your business offering, especially as it could avoid you having to let employees go or closing altogether. A top tip is to ensure your website design facilitates a way for your business to make money, such as an online store or the ability to purchase vouchers for when you reopen.

Refine your marketing

If your business has experienced disruption, now is the perfect opportunity to make the most of the downtime by refining your marketing strategy. Social media marketing is a huge part of this, especially as it’s one of the best ways to communicate with your customers about what’s happening with your business during the pandemic and beyond.

SEO has always been an integral part of marketing, and now more than ever, people are making Google searches to find out which services they can still access. Relevant keywords about your service and location should be displayed throughout your website and on your social media posts. There’s no reason why you can’t build your audience and adapt your business model to profit from it, even during these difficult times.

To sum up

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, it’s clear that communication and an element of flexibility are what’s needed most. All of us are trying to find a way through, so it’s imperative that as a business, you remain top of everything that needs to be done.

By giving your customers new ways to shop with you, and fine-tuning your digital marketing, you will give your business the best chance of success during these turbulent times.

How to promote your business in a pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we all do business. Social distancing, working from home and staff being on Furlough have given businesses unprecedented challenges. With so much uncertainty, you must continue to spread the word about what it is that you do. After all, you need to do everything in your power to ride the next few months out.

While there isn’t a handbook for promoting a business during a pandemic, there are some key strategies you can employ to keep things ticking over. Here are our top tips on what your next steps should be.

Stay social

Posting on social media probably feels like the last thing you want to be doing at the minute. However, it’s the best way to keep your business at the forefront of your customer’s minds. If you haven’t already got a watertight social media strategy, then it’s worth investing in social media marketing.

Doing so is a great tactic to make sure your content is fresh and on point. Marketing agencies specialise in this kind of work, including launching paid ads and analysing your stats. If you don’t have the time or knowledge to manage your own social media channels, then outsourcing it will make sure your audience doesn’t slip, especially when you’re most in need of a boost.

Email marketing

Email marketing can generate $38 (£29) for every $1 (76p) spent. At a time of great financial uncertainty, make sure you aren’t forgetting about the humble email when trying to promote your business. It’s the perfect method of communication to introduce yourself, your business and any news or offers you want to share with your customers.

The key is to use engaging subject lines that will boost your open rate. When done correctly, email marketing can add value to your brand story, and ultimately your business. Set goals for each campaign such as to push a particular product or service. These tactics are useful regardless of whether your business is going through a pandemic or not.

Update your website

Given visiting in person isn’t something people can do as easily do during Covid-19, your customers will be turning to online forms of communication now more than ever. As the digital face of your business, your website should be tooting your horn about what it is you do. So if you haven’t redesigned your website in a while, now couldn’t be a better time to do it. Or get a web designer in to do it for you!

Ideally, your website will contain some way people can buy from you. This could be in the form of an e-commerce setup, or the ability to buy vouchers for your service. For example, beauticians have been selling vouchers for when they reopen to generate a profit while they are closed. This requires a dedicated function on your website and a secure payment method to facilitate this.

To sum up

Even though things are tough for everyone right now, you still need to be making an effort to market your business.

How to stay in touch with your loved ones during lockdown

In the UK, we’re in lockdown mode once again. Much like the first time, we will be confined to our homes. This means no mixing with anyone who doesn’t live with us, which sadly includes friends, and family too.

All we can do is make the most of it, and look at how we can stay connected. Here are our top tips on how to stay in touch with your loved ones during lockdown to tell you more.

Zoom

Zoom has been the platform of choice to connect with workmates and loved ones throughout Covid. If you’re yet to try Zoom, you can have up to 100 participants on a call lasting up to 40 minutes. Though, this can be extended if you use the paid version.

It doesn’t have to be about boring work chats either. You can invite all of your friends and family for a quiz night, or even attempt some karaoke. Given we can’t all meet up right now, it’s the closest thing we have to coming together, so be sure to schedule regular meetings so that you don’t lose touch with everyone.

Facebook Messenger

Most people use Facebook Messenger for casual chats with their contacts throughout the day. But, if you’re friends or family live abroad, it can save you hundreds off your phone bill, as you can call and video chat within the interface.

An added touch is the ability to play games together in the chat too. There’s everything from word games to puzzle games, and even the likes of pool and Pac Mac too. If you’re bored during the lockdown, it’s the perfect way to connect with others and let off a bit of steam too.

Netflix Party

Netflix Party (now known as Teleparty) is a way of watching your favourite shows together, regardless of the location of everyone else. Whether you’ll be tuning in to the new season of The Crown or rewatch a classic movie, everyone’s video will be synced and you can also participate in a group chat.

Unfortunately, during lockdown, there will be no cinema time. But you can recreate the experience at least in part this way. Be sure to bring some nachos and popcorn to the proceedings too!

Virtual Dinner Date

There will be no meeting up for a Tinder date during lockdown or even seeing your current beau unless you live in the same household. But what you can do is hold a virtual dinner date. Anything goes, though most couples order each other a takeaway. This can be a great way to get to know each other or keep the romance going if you’re in a long term relationship.

If you’re virtually meeting someone new, then you can make things interesting by asking each other some questions. Doing so can be a great ice breaker, especially if you’re nervous. Though at least with a virtual date, you can keep your slippers on at least!

To Sum Up

While lockdown isn’t easy for anyone, staying in contact with others is one of the best ways to get through it. Be sure to check in with friends and family every day, and make time to schedule longer chats at least once a week. Hopefully, this will all soon be over, but until then, the above list will give you some food for thought.

Becoming self employed in 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has sadly seen levels of unemployment sharply rise, with The Bank of England expecting figures to reach as high as 2.5 million. If your industry has been affected you might be considering your next career move.

One option is to become self-employed either full time or as a side hustle to bring in extra income. Here’s our top advice on how to get started.

Find a niche

As difficult as losing your job is, it gives you a rare opportunity to have a clean break from your previous career. If you’ve always had a burning passion for starting your own business, then now is the time to seize that opportunity. Of course, the success of your new venture comes down to finding the right niche. It should be something you’re either qualified to do or have a real interest in. Or even, an idea that fills a gap in the market.

If you need some guidance, then a business consultant can point you in the right direction. Market research is also imperative. You need to be aware of any similar products or services that currently exist so that you can develop your USP. Consider what you can offer that’s different to your competitors that will appeal to customers.

The admin side of things

Before you start, check if you’re eligible for a government startup loan or grant. Then you need to think about how you will cover your costs in general. On a basic level, you need to work out how much you need to make ends meet (and generate a profit) and sync this with how much you will charge your customers. Sticking to your market research is going to be helpful here, as your products or services need to be something that’s in demand so that they will sell.

Then there’s the so-called ‘dreaded’ tax return to consider. It’s often the thought of tax returns that put people off going alone, but with so many accountants out there, there’s no need to panic. Whatsmore, the current UK tax-free allowance is £12,500, meaning you are only taxed after you earn above this figure. If you’re planning on being employed and self-employed, you can earn up to £1,000 from your self-employment before you have to fill out a tax return.

Marketing your business

Due to the coronavirus restrictions, the way you can market your new venture is going to look a little different. For example, there will be no door to door enquiries or giving leaflets out in public for the time being. But, with the likes of social media marketing, email marketing and of course having your own website, this doesn’t have to be an issue. If you’re confident in digital marketing then you can create advertising campaigns yourself, or you can outsource your marketing to an agency if you have the budget.

To market your business successfully, you need to know who your core audience is in terms of age, gender, income and personality. It might sound a lot to consider, but it will help streamline your marketing efforts so that you target the right people. Don’t forget to tell your friends and family too, as building up your social media followers is going to help you get your name out there.

Networking

One of the best things you can do when you’ve just become self-employed is to network with others. Not only will this help create more awareness about your business, but it will help you learn more about the world of business in general. In-person networking events might not be happening right now, but there are plenty of online business groups and social media accounts you can connect with to spread the word.

When posting on social media, let people know your location by using hashtags. Growing a local presence could open up a wealth of opportunities, especially as people always look to support those in the community. Make sure it’s a two-way process by supporting other business owners so that your networking is seen as valuable to others. You might even find other individuals you can team up with to grow your business with from doing so.

To sum up

Becoming self-employed is not without its challenges at the best of times. But is a way of creating income especially if your industry has been affected due to the pandemic. Whether you start a side hustle or decide to give it your all, we hope the above tips will put you on the path for success with your self-employment venture.

Covid-19 – FAQ for homeowners

The coronavirus pandemic has been a testing time for us all. Britain has now entered a second lockdown, meaning all attention will once again be on staying indoors. As a homeowner, it can be confusing to know what is and isn’t allowed.

To make things easier to understand, we’ve answered the top frequently asked questions regarding homeownership and Covid-19 to guide you.

Can I move house during lockdown?

Yes, although people from outside your household or support bubble can not help you to move house unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Estate agents, letting firms and removal companies can continue to work. This includes conducting property viewings, though everyone will be required to wear a mask and social distance when doing so.

Can I still claim for a mortgage holiday?

Yes. The scheme was due to come to an end in October 2020 but has now been extended for up to 6 months. You can claim if you are otherwise up to date on your mortgage, and have concerns about paying it due to being financially affected by Covid-19.

Buy-to-let landlords are also eligible to claim, with the expectation that they will pass the payment break onto their tenants. The deadline for applying for a mortgage holiday is January 31, 2021, at the time of writing.

Am I eligible for tax relief while working from home?

Yes. If you’re an employee who has worked from home for at least one day since April 6th, you can claim tax relief. The value is up to £125, so is well worth applying for if you qualify.

Do landlords still need to arrange repairs for tenants during lockdown?

Yes. The landlord is still responsible for maintaining the property, throughout lockdown and Covid-19 in general. Though the government has advised that repairs should only be carried out if they are urgent or if there is a safety risk while in lockdown. If repairs are required and the landlord needs to enter the property, it is advised the tenants stay in another room to avoid any contact.

I can’t stay at my main residence during lockdown. What should I do?

During lockdown, the government has stated homeowners can stay elsewhere overnight if there is a legitimate reason why they cannot stay at their main residence.

Otherwise, people are not permitted to stay in second homes, caravans, hotels or with friends or family.

Outside of lockdown, you should follow the local advice as each area of the UK may have different restrictions.

Can I have a cleaner in my house during lockdown?

Cleaning counts as a job that cannot be done remotely, and the government has stated that cleaners can continue to work as normal during the second lockdown.

If you have a cleaner visit your home during the pandemic, it’s advised you social distance and that they wear a mask.

To sum up

Above is a list of some of the FAQ for homeowners during Covid-19. As always, we suggest consulting the latest government advice on matters relating to homeownership, work and travel as the information is subject to change.

How to make your workplace Covid-19 secure

Covid-19 has changed the way we work, with many workplaces being forced to close their doors during parts of the pandemic and many employees working from home. If your job requires you to travel into the office or meet with colleagues or customers face-to-face, it’s never been more critical to have watertight risk assessments in place.

But what steps do you need to take to make sure that your workplace is Covid-secure?

Complete a Covid risk assessment for your workplace

It is your duty as an employer to protect your employees, customers, and anyone else that enters your buildings from harm. This includes taking reasonable steps to protect these people from Covid-19.

To identify where your employees may be at risk, you should complete a Covid-19 risk assessment for your workplace.

In your Covid-19 risk assessment, you should identify any areas of the workplace or situations which may cause transmission of the virus, identify who could be at risk, and work out the likelihood of their exposure to the virus. You can then put measures in place to mitigate or reduce the risk in these areas.

Maintaining hygiene during coronavirus

Covid-19 can be spread through contact with surfaces. That’s why it’s important to keep high-contact surfaces clean and encourage good hand hygiene amongst your employees.

You should use signs and posters to remind your workers to practice good handwashing technique and ensure that you have adequate handwashing facilities with running water and soap. You should also provide hand sanitiser around buildings and for employees who are unable to wash their hands regularly.

You should identify any surfaces which are touched regularly and implement an increased cleaning schedule for these areas. These areas could include door handles, lift buttons, desks, touch screens, and shared equipment.

Social distancing in the workplace during coronavirus

Social distancing involves people keeping a distance from one another to limit the spread of Covid-19. Where possible, you should keep two metres of distance from other households. However, where two metres isn’t possible, one metre is acceptable providing other protective measures are taken such as wearing masks, using Perspex screens, or facing away from each other.

Consider how you could implement social distancing in your workplace to reduce the chance of transmission. This may include using floor paint or tape to mark work areas, providing signage to remind people to keep distance, and limiting the movement of people wherever possible.

Working from home during coronavirus

If your employees are able to work from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, you should allow them to do so wherever possible. This will limit the risk of transmission for any employees who must remain in the workplace.

Ensure that you communicate regularly with any employees who are working from home, making sure that they have everything that they need to work safely.

Protecting vulnerable workers during coronavirus

Some people are at increased risk of a negative outcome if they contract Covid-19. Companies should put measures in place to protect those workers as much as possible. This could mean moving vulnerable employees into roles where they are able to work from home to minimise the risk of them catching the virus.

Consult the experts in workplace health and safety

For more information about keeping your workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, occupational health and safety experts can give advice. If you are looking to hire an expert in health and safety to help you to make your workplace COVID-secure, you can find an occupational health and safety expert on Bark.

Five steps to living your best life during Covid-19

The coronavirus pandemic has left no area of life untouched. From your work life to your family life and your health to your social life, it’s likely you’ve experienced some major life changes over the past year.

Most people have simply been living in survival mode, doing whatever it takes to get through daily life. However, for some people, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused them to take a step back and reassess their lives, making long-term changes which will last long beyond the pandemic.

Whether you’re run off your feet as a key worker or struggling with isolation, here are five ways that you can take control of your life and thrive during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Focus on what you can control

It’s easy to feel out of control when so many areas of your life are restricted and you’re facing high levels of stress. But try to focus on the things that you can control. Set yourself small goals, whether that be starting to plan the book you’ve always dreamed of writing or taking up running. Focusing on specific goals can help you to take back control of your life.

Connect with nature

Spending time outdoors can help you to feel grounded when things are out of your control. Try going for a walk and really focusing on what you can see, hear and smell. You could also have a go at growing your own fruit or vegetables – there’s nothing more satisfying than eating food that you’ve grown yourself.

Maintain a routine

It’s easy to forget about self-care if you aren’t leaving the house as much as usual, but self-care translates to positive mental wellbeing. Try setting your alarm for the same time every morning to get up, take a shower and brush your teeth. A consistent morning routine helps to set you up for a good day, leaving you ready to achieve your goals.

Keep talking

It can be easy to feel isolated when you can’t see your friends and family as much as usual. That’s why it’s important to find new ways to stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic. Take the time to contact your friends and family by text, phone call, or even video call as regularly as possible. As well as supporting your own mental health, it could benefit the people you reach out to as well.

Hire a life coach

If this period of reflection has made you reconsider your priorities or empowered you to make a big change to your life, it’s worth considering hiring a life coach.

You may be wondering “what is a life coach?” A life coach can help you to make the changes you desire, whether that’s in your career, your relationships or your day-to-day life. They’re there to help you to set realistic and achievable goals and to empower and motivate you to achieve those goals.

Best of all – life coaching can be done virtually, so there’s no need to wait until the pandemic is over to get started. Your online life coach can support and empower you through video calls and over the phone, allowing you to make changes towards a positive mental wellbeing and a successful future.

If you’re thinking of hiring a life coach to help you to improve your life, you can find a life coach on Bark.

Five tips for planning a wedding during Covid-19

Covid-19 caused many couples’ dream weddings to been postponed or at the least dramatically altered due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Coronavirus has impacted on every single one of our lives in many ways and it can be crushing to learn that the wedding you’ve dreamed of for so long needs to be changed.

Whether you’re planning a small and intimate wedding within the Covid-19 restrictions or planning ahead for a more lavish affair once restrictions have been lifted, you’ll want to read our top five tips for planning a wedding during Covid-19.

Consider your budget

Even without Covid-19 hanging over us, budget planning should always be your first port of call. Carefully consider what finances you’ve got to work with so that you know exactly what you can afford and where you might need to compromise.

Try to avoid paying out large amounts of money to any supplier in the current climate. Deposits are fine but make sure you’re clear about terms and conditions relating to postponement and cancellation – and get it in writing. You don’t want to lose money if anything has to change.

Be realistic about dates

No one knows when large gatherings such as weddings will be able to recommence. Choosing a date in early 2021 may be risky so don’t get your heart set on it. Planning for late 2021 or even 2022 may be more realistic. No one wants the stress and uncertainty of wondering whether their wedding is going ahead and potentially having to rearrange it.

Review your guest list

There’s always a chance that things could change at the last minute, no matter how far in advance you’re planning your wedding. As well as having your ideal guest list, it’s useful to also write a core guest list of people that you wouldn’t want your wedding to go ahead without. If you are forced to cut your guest list down at the last minute, you’ll have your core list already planned out to fall back on.

Plan ahead with suppliers

With many couples being forced to postpone their wedding, many suppliers are quickly becoming booked up well into the future. If there are specific wedding suppliers that you plan to use, get yourself booked in as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may run the risk of your chosen supplier being fully booked, leaving you to scramble for an alternative who has availability.

Hiring a wedding planner for your Covid-19 wedding

Planning a wedding at any time is stressful, but there’s no doubt that the stress will be greatly increased if you need to plan your wedding during the coronavirus pandemic. Hiring a wedding planner can remove some of that stress. They are highly experienced in planning almost any type of wedding with connections in the industry which may go in your favour when booking suppliers.

If you’re thinking of hiring a wedding planner for your Covid-19 wedding, you can find a wedding or event planner on Bark.

Five reasons to hire an online dog trainer for your pandemic pup

Covid-19 made everybody reassess their priorities. For many people, it resulted in a new addition to their home: a dog.

It may be that you live on your own and need company, or that you’ve discovered a new love for walking that you want to share with a four-legged friend. Whatever your reasons for deciding to welcome a dog into your home, your canine will need training.

Whether it’s a rescue dog that you’ve rehomed or a young puppy that you’ve carefully selected from a litter, your dog will be looking to you for guidance on how to behave in their new home.

Here are five reasons to consider hiring an online dog trainer.

Counteract the ‘new normal’

Everyone keeps talking about the ‘new normal’ that we’re all adapting to. This new normal means that you’re probably spending most of your day in the company of your four-legged friend which is great for bonding but may also mean that your dog is becoming reliant on you. This could become an issue when it comes to leaving your dog alone in the future.

Your dog is also missing out on everyday stimuli, such as other dogs, people outside your household, traffic, and loud noises. Investing time in training your dog at this challenging time can help to counteract this strange situation, ensuring that you aren’t left with deeply-rooted issues later down the line.

Keep your dog calm in quarantine

There isn’t much that’s more stressful than your dog getting a sudden burst of energy when you’re in the middle of a Zoom meeting and deciding to destroy your chair leg!

Hiring an online dog trainer can help you to harness your dog’s energy and put it to good use. The online dog trainer can provide you with daily training exercises to do with your canine which will exercise their brain, leaving them worn out – so you can fool everyone into thinking you’re concentrating on that next video call.

Fend off the boredom

Let’s face it – lockdown is boring. When you’re not working or doing your daily exercise, there isn’t much else to do.

An online dog training course will give you something else to get stuck into, with daily training exercises to complete with your pup. While all of your friends are comparing how many box sets they managed to watch, you can revel in your success of training your four-legged friend.

Don’t miss out

When it comes to toilet training or lead training, there’s a critical window where your dog will be most receptive to training. Miss this window and it can be more difficult for your canine to master their new skills.

An online dog trainer can give you professional advice on the best way to train your specific breed of dog because they’re all different. The sooner you can train your dog, the less time they’ve got to get stuck in habits that are challenging to break.

Some things can’t wait

There are some issues that need dealing with straight away. Dog behaviour problems, such as aggression, require immediate attention. Signs of aggression in your dog include growling, snarling, baring teeth, snapping, or lunging. Fail to address aggression in your dog immediately and you could be left with a serious problem.

Online dog trainers are highly skilled in dealing with issues such as aggressive dogs, giving you techniques and exercises that you can do at home with your pooch.

If you’re ready to get started with dog training, find a Dog Trainer on Bark.