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.

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 5/11/2020 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.

Age UK Lincoln and South Lincolnshire (Supporting wider Lincolnshire)

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

Market Rasen Action Group 

Feeding Gainsborough 

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 theLincolnshire 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

  • 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 launched their signposting and befriending service to support those who are vulnerable or self-isolating. The service aims to help connect vulnerable people to community support projects across the city such as food banks and food delivery services from local businesses. Anyone in need of information on where to get help can call the dedicated phone lines on 01522 873461/ 873374 or email communityhelp@lincoln.gov.uk
  • 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. 
    The council has also shared a Good Citizen Guide outlining the types of activity that community members might undertake during this time.
  • 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. We get things done for you.
    0800 2600 400
    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

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community-Service/Hopelinks-1664150240502447/

Support and Advice for Groups

  • The government has produced guidance on the National Restrictions from 5th November 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 organisations 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.
  • VODA have produced a useful guide to informal volunteering and how to safely get individuals involved in the local community, which is available from their website.
  • 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

Community activity and volunteering information- Coronavirus Response