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How can I volunteer to help the NHS in London?
“The Royal Voluntary Service set up the NHS Volunteer Responders initiative with the GoodSAM app to support those isolating at home and to relieve pressure on the NHS. Volunteers deliver groceries and medicine from pharmacies, drive patients to appointments and make regular phone calls to check on those isolating at home.” RK
Can I still sign up?
“Not right now, but that’s good news. We’ve paused recruitment due to the volume of applications. More than 750,000 people signed up in just four days, three times the original target. Thanks to that huge response, the group of vulnerable people they are supporting in England has been expanded and they will come to the aid of 2.5 million at-risk people.” RK
What’s your biggest challenge at the moment?
“Encouraging NHS health professionals and local authority workers to refer jobs to us via the NHS England portal at goodsamapp.org/NHSreferral. That’s how we begin to free up their valuable time.” RK
How can I keep safe? Are volunteers given PPE?
“We don’t provide PPE as volunteers are not working with patients who have been in hospital with Covid-19. Most tasks can be done while social distancing and volunteers will receive a ‘getting you started’ pack which will provide advice on keeping you and those you support safe. The one exception is the patient transport role — taking patients to routine appointments — where volunteers receive extra advice on following good hygiene practices.” RK
What is the GoodSam app?
“A matching system for volunteers and tasks enabled through technology. Referrals from the NHS or local authority are logged in the system and matched to a volunteer in the community. Open the app on your phone, opt in or out of being available for work (don’t if you feel even slightly sick), and you’ll be assigned volunteer tasks in your area that you can either accept or leave for someone else.” RK
I’m not a key worker. Won’t I be stopped by the police while driving around London?
“No. Once you’ve successfully registered, the system builds you a profile on the GoodSam app, with your name, volunteer ID number and picture. It shows whether you’re on duty and any live tasks you’ve been assigned. You would simply show the officer your profile on the app.” RK
What is a Covid-19 mutual-aid group?
“People helping in the community — volunteers all over London have been delivering food, medicine and baby supplies, walking dogs, providing meals, and talking to lonely people on the phone. Whatever support people have needed, neighbours have tried to provide it. Find your local group at Covidmutualaid.org.” JR
How can I make sure I stay safe?
“Groups are continually improving safeguarding. For example, when we contact someone in need of help, we ask them for a code word that we share with the volunteer, so the person knows the volunteer is from our group. All our meetings take place virtually so we keep in touch safely as well.” JR
I’m unable to leave the house – can I still contribute?
“There are all sorts of different ways you can help — a friendly voice on the phone for anyone who is self-isolating and might not be living with friends and family is just as much help as volunteers who can get out and about with deliveries. There are also tons of people helping behind the scenes —building the website, matching volunteers with people who need help and checking in on volunteers to make sure they’re doing OK.” JR
From Rebecca Kennelly, director of volunteering at Royal Voluntary Service, and Jack Rowley, community leader at Covid-19 mutual-aid group Nunhead Knocks.
