Volunteer Centres across Lincolnshire are now involved in supporting the delivery of the Covid Vaccine programme, and are currently working with local Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to recruit volunteers at a variety of local sites. These volunteers are part of a team who help deliver the programme in your community.
If you would like to know more about volunteering with the Covid Vaccine programme, please contact your local Volunteer Centre.
We are collecting information about informal community activities taking place in response to coronavirus and supporting the county-wide community response. Please let us know about your group or activities via our Volunteering in Lincolnshire Facebook Group. or Voluntary Centre Services Facebook Page.
- First and foremost, we would like to encourage everyone to follow government guidelines and stay at home, observing good handwashing techniques.
- You can access news about the county-wide response from the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum latest newsletters here.
Volunteering Opportunities
If you are a community organisation looking for volunteers to help with coronavirus response tasks, please let us know – we are hearing from people willing to help. Contact any of our Voluntary Centre Services office. Our staff are working from home but will still be able to pick up your call or email.
As of 16/02/2021 the following volunteering opportunities are still available:
Lincolnshire-specific vulnerable person support:
- Lincolnshire County Council has been collating a list of organisations across the county who are able to respond to the outbreak with community support. Information for people who want to help, and for people looking for help can be found on the Community Help and Volunteering page of their website.
NHS Volunteer Responder
- Recruitment is open and they are looking for responders particularly in the Lincoln and North Kesteven areas. but the programme is open for referrals from health practitioners. People who have received a letter or have been asked by Test and Trace to self-isolate can also request help directly. More info on the RVS website.
Lincoln Foodbank:
- Volunteers are needed for packing at the warehouse, helping at the distribution centres, and van drivers/delivery team. If anyone would like to volunteer, please complete the form on this link: https://bit.ly/foodcrisis-volunteer.
- Please continue to donate food when possible, as well as carrier bags – as they will be needed to deliver to people who are self-isolating. Donation drop-offs are at: Morrisons, Tesco stores and Lincolnshire Co-op Food Stores.
NCVO Volunteer Guide
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has produced a useful guide on how you can help during the Coronavirus pandemic: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ncvo-volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer/volunteering-coronavirus
Market Rasen Action Group
- They are welcoming volunteers to help with prescriptions, shopping, etc. Find out more via the Market Rasen Facebook Group or email marketrasenactiongroup@gmail.com.
For the Love of Scrubs
- A national initiative for those who can sew to manufacture scrubs for key workers to ensure they have sufficient items to get through the crisis. To find out more visit the Lincolnshire FLOS group on Facebook.
Many new volunteer groups are emerging via the power of social media – check your village, town or neighbourhood Facebook pages.
If you’re not on Facebook, VCS may be able to help you find your nearest local groups – call us on 01522 551683 or 01529 308450 or email your nearest VCS office.
More opportunities are also being added regularly on the National Volunteering Database at Do-it.org.
Support for Individuals
- Sleaford Dementia Support is offering telephone buddy service from volunteers who understand dementia. To find out more call 07761610664 or email sleafordds@gmail.com or you can find them on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sleafordds2016.
- Lincolnshire County Council is co-ordinating support for vulnerable individuals. You can register that you need help here or by calling 01522 782189, they have also outlined the services that are still running throughout lockdown.
- Gov.uk has launched a vulnerable persons registration service for anyone who did not receive a letter automatically notifying them of their at-risk status, but who does still identify themselves as vulnerable.
- City Of Lincoln Council have also have produced an interactive map and some useful information relating to services offered in the community on their new Community Support page for the Covid-19 situation.
- West Lindsey District Council You can find all the latest updates on disruption to council services and the latest on support for businesses and council tax here: www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/coronavirus
- North Kesteven District Council You can find all the latest updates on disruption to council services and the latest on support for businesses and council tax here: https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/coronavirus/
- Lincoln Community Larder are currently continuing to run the following food distribution centres:
Rosemary Lane – Tuesdays 1.30-3pm, Fridays 1.30-3pm,
St Giles Methodist Church – Wednesdays 10am-12pm, and Fridays 9.30am-11.30am
St John’s Ermine – Wednesdays 9.30am -10.30am
To donate, please contact 01522 569291 Mobile:07914655460 Email: lincolncommunitylarder@hotmail.co.uk
More info on their website: http://lincolnlarder.co.uk/
- Sudden – Bereavement Support Helpline
They provide:
a confidential listening ear to say how you are feeling, and help you feel safe, supported and connected, whatever you are going through right now, from day one of your bereavement.
access to compassionate help where you live. We connect you with people who care and can help. You might want to talk to someone in your community and get help with immediate practical needs. We find you that help.
help with pressing problems. No problem is too big or small for the Sudden team. Whether you need help stopping junk mail arriving, can’t understand a will, or are struggling with lack of income, we are here to help.
Tel: 0800 2600 400
Email: help@sudden.org
Operating hours: 10am – 4pm Monday – Friday
Website: https://sudden.org/about-our-help/sudden-helpline
- Hopelinks – a telephone befriending service available to those feeling isolated as a Carer or as a result of COVID, give them a call to be connected to a MATE for confidential friendly chat during this difficult time. Tel: 0800 8832 111 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community-Service/Hopelinks-1664150240502447/
- Lincoln Trauma Centre is offering online services for free or at low cost for those needing support. Professional and self-referral available: https://www.lincolntraumacentre.org.uk/referrals
- Think2Speak are able to offer their counselling and support services online or by phone and a small number of free sessions are available. Professional or self-referral available. https://www.think2speak.com/refer
- Guide Dogs are providing answers and information for people with sight loss and their families during the coronavirus outbreak. They can help you identify ways to continue living actively, independently and well, refer you to their other services or help you access services by other providers. Please call 0800 781 1444 between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. You can find more information on their website: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/covid19
- St Barnabas Hospice launched a new Bereavement Support Helpline: 0300 303 1897 in response to the immediate and anticipated future demand on bereavement services, whether deaths are as a result of Coronavirus or from other causes. Callers do NOT need to have previously used Hospice Services. More info can be found here: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/services/wellbeing-support/bereavementhelpline/
- ConnecTED Together Friendship Offer– Community Lincs/YMCA is offering regular wellbeing and friendship calls, support and signposting for advice across Lincolnshire. This service is available to all residents over 50 in Lincolnshire, please call – 01529 301965.
- New Life Community Larder in Sleaford also offers emergency food support. More information can be found via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/146400875433664/about
- Headway UK has a dedicated phone line for brain injury survivors and their carers that is open Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm – 0808 800 2244 and has a dedicated Coronavirus page on their website.
Their local branch, Headway Lincolnshire also currently runs online Zoom support groups. Find out more by contacting Ann-Marie Smith on 07546 592526 or info@headwaylincolnshire.org.uk or via their website: www.headwaylincolnshire.org.uk. - Evergreen Sleaford provides befriending services for the over 70s – http://www.evergreensleaford.org.uk/.
- Carers First are on hand throughout the lockdown offering advice and support to carers throughout Lincolnshire: https://www.carersfirst.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19
- Helpmystreet.org helps connect neighbours in need with people who can help each other with tasks like shopping and cooking. –
- We are with you (previously known as Addaction) provides support for anyone suffering with an drugs and alcohol addiction. Find more via their website: https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/help-and-advice/.
- Gamcare provides support and advice for anyone with a gambling addiction Find out more via their website.
- Some Useful Facebook pages:
Help Those in Isolation, Lincoln: https://www.facebook.com/groups/141092510568580/
Coronavirus in Lincolnshire: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1038758976480924/?source_id=162536950443239
Gainsborough Community Mental Health Network: https://www.facebook.com/GainsMH
Covid 19 Crisis Action Team: https://www.facebook.com/Covid19-Crisis-Action-Team-111188977289397
Sleaford Area Coronavirus Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/240869097074556
Market Rasen Action Group: https://www.facebook.com/MarketRasenActionGroup2018/
Support and Advice for Groups
- The government has produced guidance on the National Restrictions from the 14th of January and the Safe Use of Community Facilities once lockdown has ended.
- The government has also published information on its website to enable charities to view current government funding opportunities and other support for civil society organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Funding for voluntary and community organisation supporting people during the coronavirus outbreak. We have produced a funding digest highlighting some of the grant opportunities available for groups which you can view here.
- Lincolnshire Co-op: Are you part of a community group who could help support vulnerable people with deliveries of essential groceries or by picking up prescriptions for them? Find out how you can work with Lincolnshire Co-op to support your local community here: http://ow.ly/fJ2M50yQWdM
- NCVO’s KnowHowNonProfit pages have information for community organisations on involving volunteers during this time, plus also how to protect staff, volunteers and beneficiaries, and contingency/financial planning. The ‘how charities are helping’ section also includes links to coronavirus information produced for a range of people such as those with specific health conditions, learning disabilities, or those who need info in other languages.
- Community Lincs have created a Good Neighbour Scheme Lite Toolkit, which is full of helpful information and guidance for new community groups who are helping their neighbours during this time. The team is on hand to help- please email gns@communitylincs.com to get your copy of the toolkit or speak to a member of the team.
- Information on Car insurance for Volunteer Responders: If you are using your own car for voluntary purposes to transport medicines or groceries to support others who are impacted by Covid-19, your cover will not be affected. You do not need to contact your insurer to update your documents or extend your cover. This applies to all categories of NHS Volunteer Responders, including transporting patients, equipment, or other essential supplies. (Karl Wilding- NCVO)
- Data protection: The ICO has produced updated guidance around community groups and COVID-19: what you need to know about data protection.
DBS Checking
- Rules have been relaxed nationally relating to DBS checking.
- VCS is currently unable to offer its usual DBS checking service due to the need for a wet signature on paperwork. We have been advised through our networks that uCheck.co.uk offers a suitable online alternative for groups needing to access DBS checking services during this period.
- VCS remains able to offer advice about the need for DBS checking as well as safeguarding information, policy templates etc.
Keep us in the loop
Please bookmark this page to ensure you have the latest information. Please help us by sharing important and useful information directly to info@voluntarycentreservices.org.uk