NHS calls for volunteers to support vulnerable communities

• Admin Super
• 11 August, 2023

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By: Admin Super

NHS and Care Volunteers Responders urgently call upon compassionate individuals to volunteer their time in collecting and delivering food shopping and prescriptions to vulnerable people in their local communities. Accessing essential items has become a significant challenge for many vulnerable individuals, making everyday activities like grocery shopping difficult or impossible.

Volunteers can make a world of difference by ensuring access to fresh groceries and essential items for those facing health challenges, limited mobility, hospital waits, recent hospital discharge, and those struggling to shop unaided. The flexible volunteering program, is managed through the GoodSAM smartphone app, allows Volunteer Responders to positively impact the health and wellbeing of people in their area at convenient times.

The Volunteer Responders program, delivered by Royal Voluntary Service and the GoodSAM app is on behalf of the NHS and Department of Health and Social Care, is expanding to support more communities across England. The range of activities includes making friendly phone calls, delivering medication and supplies, and serving as steward volunteers at vaccination sites.

Sam Ward OBE, Deputy CEO of Royal Voluntary Service, emphasizes saying “by joining the programme, volunteers can make a significant impact by providing fresh groceries, prescriptions, and necessary supplies to support the health and happiness of those in need”.

The call for volunteers is more urgent than ever, as the demand for community support persists. Royal Voluntary Service encourages individuals who can               lend a helping hand to step up and help their communities through volunteering.

In addition to the Community Response initiative, the programme offers various activities to aid the NHS and individuals receiving social care support. Volunteers can engage in making friendly telephone calls through the Check In and Chat and Check In and Chat Plus services, deliver essential medication and supplies as Pick Up and Deliver volunteers, and contribute as Steward Volunteers at vaccination sites.

Through these diverse opportunities, volunteers can play a vital role in supporting the well-being and care of those in need, fostering a stronger and more resilient community.

Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for multiple tasks to meet the demand in each area. Recruitment for Community Response is now open, and the activities will commence in the coming weeks.

Since its inception, the Volunteer Responders program has fulfilled over 2.5 million requests for help, supporting over 200,000 people, and completing over 363,000 shifts at vaccination sites.

For more details and to sign up as a volunteer, visit the website: nhscarevolunteerresponders.org

About Royal Voluntary Service   

• Royal Voluntary Service: A leading volunteering organization in Great Britain, supporting public health, social care, and wellbeing.
• Origins: Founded as the Women’s Voluntary Service in 1938, assisting civilians during WWII.
• NHS Support: Long-standing partnership with the NHS, offering patient companionship, transport, on-ward exercise sessions, and settlement support for vulnerable patients following a stay in hospital.
• Community Initiatives: Running physical activity classes, dining clubs, and social groups to promote better health, social interactions, and connections.
• COVID-19 Response: Commissioned by NHS England to recruit NHS Volunteer Responders during the pandemic, supporting over 2.5 million at-risk individuals.
• Support – The charity runs volunteer-operated shops, cafes, and trolley services in UK hospitals, offering refreshments and companionship to patients, hospital staff, and visitors.
• Virtual Village Hall: An online activity hub providing free daily livestreamed sessions for physical and mental wellbeing, with over 1,400 available activities and 55,000 followers.

For more details, visit: https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/