COVID-19 Volunteers

Volunteering

Lots of people are getting in touch to offer support in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. We think that’s wonderful and want to make sure that everyone who can offer support can do so safely and provide it where it will be most useful.

We are currently collating a Covid-19 Community Volunteer Bank. Volunteers will be called when they are needed. Please sign up here. Once you have submitted your information we will get in touch when there is a call for your support and we will tell you where you should go to provide your support.

Please bear with us as we are working with other partners to make sure that the help is given where it is most needed and the systems are currently being put into place.

If you would like to volunteer and become a Covid-19 Community Volunteer please complete our Volunteer Registration form.

Examples of roles that volunteers can do to help in the Covid–19 crisis; Street Volunteer Organiser, Delivering Essential Supplies, Collecting Prescriptions, ‘Getting Online’ Digital Support, on-line Parent Home Schooling Support, Food Distribution Centres, Dog Walking, Interpreting, Telephone Helpline/Telephone Befriending, Leafleting, Wellbeing Support to Others, Adding capacity to existing services in case of staff shortages.

For now, here’s how you can help

Look out for your neighbours

The simplest thing everyone can do right now is look out for their neighbours and offer help with shopping and other errands.

Remember it’s a marathon not a sprint – your help will be even more crucial in a few weeks’ time. For now, the best thing to do is to check in on neighbours.

There may also be a mutual aid group in your neighbourhood that is already operating and looking for people to join to provide a support network. To see if any groups have already been set up in your neighbourhood look at Covid Mutual Aid UK.

If you would like to be a street organiser yourself here is an information sheet with advice on how to do this.

Stay safe when supporting others

  1. Keep washing your hands often for 20 seconds.
  2. Stay at least two metres – about three steps – away from people you’re helping.
  3. If you’re trying to help someone with very serious issues – don’t be afraid to flag with appropriate statutory services.
  4. Support family, friends and neighbours by phone or video call.
  5. Offer to run errands for people but stay outside of people’s homes.
  6. Let family and friends know what you’re doing.
  7. Don’t take on too much – it’s often better not to offer at all than to let someone down.

Informal / Neighbourhood Volunteering

VODA has developed a new Informal Volunteering Guidance sheet for volunteers and a series of videos with useful guidance on areas such as Supporting Volunteers – aimed primarily at informal mutual aid neighbourhood volunteering groups – Safeguarding, Telephone Befriending Tips and How to Stay Safe as a Volunteer.

Voluntary or Community Groups

Do you Need Volunteers?

If you are a group that needs the help of volunteers please complete our Volunteer Recruitment for Groups form here.

Examples of roles that volunteers can do to help in the Covid–19 crisis; Street Volunteer Organiser,

Delivering Essential Supplies, Collecting Prescriptions, ‘Getting Online’ Digital Support, on-line Parent Home Schooling Support, Food Distribution Centres, Dog Walking, Interpreting, Telephone Helpline/Telephone Befriending, Leafleting, Wellbeing Support to Others, Adding capacity to existing services in case of staff shortages.

Do you Need Group/ Organisational Support and Advice?

For useful information, guides and resources go to our Covid-19 Support for Groups page.

Advice about Coronavirus

Please visit the government website for the latest advice and updates here.

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