Here at TeamKinetic, we are happy to support a range of clients, from NHS services to charities and volunteer centres. During the current coronavirus pandemic, volunteers may be needed more than ever, but it is also important for everyone to stay safe. 

The recent coronavirus outbreak may mean that volunteers are needed for a different selection of tasks. Due to the potentially delicate states of some patients, exposure to the virus could be fatal and should be limited as much as possible. Furthermore, the virus could mean a much higher number of patients in hospitals across the country, increasing demand for NHS volunteers both during and after treatment.

Business as usual?

The newest government advice suggests not. With volunteering often involving activities that involve a lot of face-to-face contact, the risk of spreading the virus is increased. For example, our client the NHS Northern Care Alliance usually advertise opportunities such as:

  • Offering companionship during meal times.
  • Wayfinding for outpatients and visitors.
  • Taking outpatients to appointments using wheelchairs if needed.

These activities involve high levels of social contact, a lot of which will include contact with high risk groups. Moving to focus more on digital or non-contact forms of volunteering may be the best move for everyone right now.

Volunteers adapting to the outbreak

It could be said that one of our clients, Humanity Road, is already prepared for a situation like this. They advertise a lot of volunteering opportunities that can be completed from home. This looks to be the safest bet for anyone with volunteers in the at-risk groups who still want to help however they can.

However, if you have volunteers who are not at-risk and want to help in other ways, here are some examples of volunteers adapting to the coronavirus outbreak…

  • Creating and delivering ‘care packages’ to those in isolation.
    A pub in Liverpool started sending out packages containing toilet roll, food items and soap to pensioners in the community. 
  • Offering general help for those in self-isolation.
    A 17 year-old boy from London called Josh St John James set up a group of young volunteers to offer support in any way.
  • Cleaning.
    Frequently cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces that are often touched by a variety of people in an environment can be an effective way to prevent the virus spreading. Although simple, it may be a task that a lot of hospital paid staff are too busy to do.
  • Preventing ‘bed-blocking’.
    Teams of volunteers can ensure that patients can be discharged when they are ready, rather than block beds due to a lack of support at home. Becoming a carer can help take strain off our NHS services, helping a greater number of people recover in the long-term. As long as there are carers available, more beds will be freed up to take new patients in. It is important to note that if a volunteer believes they could have the virus, that they do not offer to care for someone who is in the at-risk group.
The care packages put together by The Bootle Arms, a pub in Liverpool.

TeamKinetic is always here to help

We will always try and provide you with relevant news through our social media channels, especially in situations like this. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you’re finding it hard to recruit volunteers or advertise opportunities without a digital system in place, you can use our system completely free of charge for the duration of the pandemic by going to our website and starting a free trial. 

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us via phone: 0161 914 5757 or email: info@teamkinetic.co.uk

We also have a general guide about how to effectively manage your volunteers during the coronavirus outbreak, click here to read it.