Volunteering Opportunities In Elmbridge To Help Out During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Volunteering Opportunities: Community Support Volunteer-COVID19

In response to the Coronavirus (Covid19) outbreak, Central Surrey Voluntary Action (CSVA) is registering a pool of potential volunteers who may be able to assist voluntary organisations across Epsom and Ewell, Elmbridge, Leatherhead, Ashtead, and Dorking and other areas in Mole Valley in the coming few weeks/months. The support needed is likely to be temporary and may include activities such as:

• providing practical support to older people and other vulnerable groups affected by Coronavirus (COVID19) e.g. shopping
  checking in with people over the phone
• supporting the running of foodbanks and community meal providers
• driving – to transport people and supplies
• IT advise for voluntary organisations and individuals about communicating online
• Administrative support – helping organisations to change the way they deliver services and contact people in need.

Please click here to find out more and to register your interest.

Local Volunteers Offering Help, Mostly On An Informal Individual Basis

Covid-19 Elmbridge Support Group on Facebook

Anyone can join this group, which has over 1,300 members, to provide help to people who need it or are organising assistance. This page includes news, suggestions and resources.

It is also open for people who need to ask for help, for themselves, a neighbour, friend or family member.

Many kind people are participating, offering to shop and deliver food, medication and essential supplies. Also donations of food and a crowdfunding page to raise funds for this cause.

Many offers of volunteering, news of food availability and shortages, and people passing on their local knowledge. It is a place where there’s fairly quick reponsiveness to situations as they arise, so potentially very helpful.

The organiser is creating a road list so that people can most effectively help their neighbours or people living nearby as far as possible.

Want to donate to help provide food to the vulnerable and elderly?
Crowdfunding Page for Coronavirus Elmbridge Group

I am convinced that this is a reputable group and that most, if not all people who are offering assistance here are genuine. However, since in some parts of the UK, there are some unscrupulous people taking advantage of the vulnerable. So please be cautious and I’d suggest you read the advice from Elmbridge Borough Council below.

Here’s a link to the Facebook group: Covid-19 Elmbridge Support Group

Advice From Elmbridge Borough Council

How can I volunteer and provide support? And what should I consider?

We know that a lot of people are offering help and support to our communities, those who are self-isolating and those who are ill at the time. This could include support such as:

• Befriending
• Information sharing
• Drivers to support with shopping/ delivering medication
• Support with errands and day to day tasks e.g. post/ walking the dog
• Backfilling admin roles
• Boredom busters e.g. virtual reading groups

It is important however that this is done in a safe and coordinated manner. If you are volunteering to help someone, you should take steps to make sure you don’t contribute to the spread of coronavirus. These include:

If you feel at all unwell, do not volunteer to help others who are self-isolating

• Wash your hands regularly, especially before and after you deliver any items to a person in isolation
• If you make a delivery, stay 2 meters away from the person who is in isolation at all times. Place the items outside their door and then step away.

Other advice

• Be careful about how you share personal information about yourself and other people. Avoid sharing your or a vulnerable person’s address and other contact information in public groups or documents.
• Try to support people who live close to you so you don’t travel larger distances
• If you are visiting people and carrying out errands, take a look at the personal safety advice on the Suzy Lamplugh Trust website.

How can I get involved?

If you would like more information on volunteering and to register your interest, please visit Central Surrey Voluntary Action.