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.
First and foremost, we would like to encourage everyone to follow government guidelines and stay at home, observing good handwashing techniques. For anyone who would like to help and is not presenting any symptoms of coronavirus, below are some useful links to the community.
You can access the latest newsletters about the county-wide response from the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum 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 Voluntary Centre Services office. (Updated 21/04/20)
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. (updated 15/4/20)
NHS Volunteer Responder recruitment is paused while initial applications are processed, but the programme is open for referrals from health practitioners. People who have received a letter asking them to self-isolate can also request help directly. More info on the RVS website. (checked 21/04/20)
British Red Cross Emergency Reserves: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/volunteer-in-emergencies
Age UK Lincoln and South Lincolnshire (Supporting wider Lincolnshire) are seeking volunteer telephone befrienders and community drivers https://www.ageuk.org.uk/lincolnsouthlincolnshire/
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: Morrison’s, Tescos stores and Lincolnshire Co-op Foodstores.
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 we can work together to support our communities here: http://ow.ly/fJ2M50yQWdM
Market Rasen Action Group is welcoming volunteers to assist with shopping, prescription collection etc. If you have a recent DBS check, even better. marketrasenactiongroup@gmail.com
Feeding Gainsborough are involving volunteers with community food deliveries in the Gainsborough area https://www.facebook.com/pg/FeedingGainsborough/posts/?ref=page_internal
For the Love of Scrubs is 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. (Checked 21/04/20)
More opportunities being added daily at Do-it.org
Support for Individuals
Lincolnshire County Council is co-ordinating support for vulnerable individuals. You can register that you need help here or by calling 01522 782189.
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
(Added 21/04/20) COLC 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: https://www.lincoln.gov.uk/coronavirus-1/coronavirus-covid-19/3?documentId=450&categoryId=252
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 9.30-10.30
To donate, please contact 01522 569291 Mobile: 07914655460 Email: lincolncommunitylarder@hotmail.co.uk
Age UK “Food Through Adversity“
Age UK Lincoln & South Lincolnshire have launched Food Through Adversity, in partnership with local catering company Salted Orange Food Co. Offering 21 nutritious meals for just £20. These vital food supplies will delivered to over 65s throughout Lincolnshire, as a response to the spread of COVID-19.
- Home cooked meals for the over 65s in Lincoln and South Lincolnshire
- 21 meals for £20* – 12 week menu available – Call now to order 03455 564 144
The weekly deliveries available for up to 12 weeks ensure that those who need it have access to three meals a day, seven days a week without the worry and stress and often logistical challenges of supermarket shopping.
For more information on our new Food Through Adversity service please visit our website – https://www.ageuk.org.uk/lincolnsouthlincolnshire/our-services/food-though-adversity/ *Delivery charge of £10 per household outside of 10 miles
Lots of other smaller businesses are offering local food delivery services. We recommend using social media to find your local providers.
Lincoln Trauma Centre is offering online services for free or at low cost for those needing support. Professional or 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. (Added 01/05/20)
St Barnabas Hospice launched a new Bereavement Support Helpline on Wednesday 29th April 2020 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. Bereavement Support Helpline: 0300 303 1897
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.
Support and Advice for Groups
The government has 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. (Added 21/5/2020)
Training for coronavirus support volunteers is now available from the British Red Cross as an online course open to anyone, whether linked to a group or helping informally. (added 28/4/20)
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. (checked 21/4/20)
Funding for voluntary and community organisations supporting people during the coronavirus outbreak. Directory of Social Change are updating this page on their website as new funder information becomes available. (Updated 21/4/20)
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.
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 heather@voluntarycentreservices.org.uk