Voluntary Action LeicesterShire, Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council have launched an initiative to build an army of volunteers to support people throughout Leicester and Leicestershire.
Looking to match help wanted with help needed – both on a local community level and alongside partners to help coordinate the effort – the initiative has already received a staggering response: over 700 applications offering help in a matter of hours with an aim to boost figures further in to the thousands.
Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) is working with both the city and county councils to identify critical services, how to keep them open and consider the wider implications for residents and communities in this unprecedented time.
With more people finding themselves in a situation where they are unable to work due to the current circumstances, this initiative could provide those who are fit and well with the opportunity to make a difference to people who need it most. VAL are looking for volunteers who ideally enjoy working with other people, are keen to help in a crisis and willing to be flexible to the continually changing situation.
Those who are interested are being asked to visit the VAL Volunteering website and fill in the short form. This will then help to establish the bank of skills, qualifications and experience volunteers have to enable VAL to matchmake them with the areas and people that need support most.
Kevin Allen-Khimani, Executive Manager – Public Sector Contracts & Projects at VAL, said: “We are thrilled with the number of volunteers who have already expressed an interest in working alongside us on this initiative and we’re hoping the figure will continue to rise as the weeks progress.”
“Whilst we’re still working on an exact list of what the volunteers will be doing, it’s likely to be things like sharing information and advice with people in the community; dog walking for those who are self-isolating; providing a friendly phone call service; picking up shopping or posting mail. Every little thing will help and can make such a huge difference. In times like this, we must come together.”
But this is not just aimed at the individual; Voluntary Action LeicesterShire are reaching out to companies across the county, too.
Kevin Allen-Khimani continues: “We’re looking for businesses who have capacity or resource that they can move from their normal routine into helping others. For example, you might have staff with company vans who can’t do their normal work? If so, let’s connect you with voluntary organisations that need things delivering – like food, or medicine”.
Anyone who would like to put their name forward to become a volunteer can find more information and complete the online form here: http://www.volunteerleicestershire.org.uk/covid-19
If you are a charity or voluntary group that would like to register to be matched with volunteers, please go to: https://www.volunteerleicestershire.org.uk/covid-19-organisations
Businesses that would like to register can contact VAL at helpline@valonline.org.uk.
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