[In line with the UK Government’s guidelines if anyone is feeling unwell with a cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing or fever please do not offer your services until you are out of the self-isolating stage]

JVN are closely monitoring the current situation regarding Covid-19 (coronavirus). We know this is impacting both charities and volunteering and bringing about an urgent need for additional support.

JVN is in a unique situation to work directly with charities to ensure the correct steps are in place. We know there is a fantastic local response via social media and community outreach, some of which are linked below.

JVN has produced a flyer with essential Covid-19 resources for you to download or print. Click here to download

JVN and their partners have been running zoom forums and webinars during the Covid-19 lockdown, offering support and training to volunteer managers, charities and organisations, including advice about Telephone Befriending . To view the latest webinars, please visit our Covid-19 training page.

Current Government Advice

The advice for anyone in any setting, including volunteers, is to follow these main guidelines.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough and/or high temperature. If you have these symptoms, however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, or after being in public areas where other people are doing so. Use hand sanitiser if that’s all you have access to.
To reduce the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or your sleeve (not your hands) if you don’t have a tissue, and throw the tissue away immediately. Then wash your hands or use a hand sanitising gel.
Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.

If you feel you are showing symptoms of Covid-19, please use the 111 online coronavirus service

For the latest Government information please follow this link to the NHS website

The Government has launched a GOV.UK Coronavirus Information service on WhatsApp. To use the free GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word ‘hi’ in a WhatsApp message to get started.

Covid-19 Volunteering Opportunities

To search for volunteering opportunities from our charities that are related to the current Covid-19 crisis, please click here

You can also find all the latest Covid-19 emergency volunteering opportunities on our mobile app, available for free both on the App Store and Google Play

***PLEASE NOTE: The NHS are no longer taking new volunteers. If this changes, we'll update this section***

The NHS are looking for Volunteer Responders.

They are looking for volunteers to:

delivering medicines from pharmacies;
driving patients to appointments;
bringing them home from hospital;
or making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home

***PLEASE NOTE: The NHS are no longer taking new volunteers. If this changes, we'll update this section***

For Volunteer Managers

The NCVO has collated a number of useful links and advice. Please click here to get all the NCVO updated information

The Government has issued some guidelines about safeguarding during this time. Follow this link for the safeguarding factsheet.

The Government has release some advice for the charity sector during the coronavirus outbreak. Click here for more information

The Institute of Fundraising has published some advice to charities about fundraising and impact issues

Volunteering Matters have produced a useful guide on how to volunteer safely

Volunteer Toronto have released a docuement outlining wipe down precautions for staff and volunteer drivers. Click here to view or download the pdf

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Covid Herts Counselling are offering free telephone support during this period. If you belong to one of the categories mentioned above, please do get in touch with them. They are also looking for volunteer qualified therapists to offer a minimum 1 hour per week telephone support during this crisis. If you can offer this, please contact them directly.

Jami has put together some essential tips for looking after your mental health during Covid-19

Mind has produced some important information about how to cope during Covid-19 and help with your wellbeing

If you are anxious, worried or stressed, Shout UK have set up a free 24/7 crisis support in the UK. Text SHOUT to 85258

Every MInd Matters have released advice and tips for Mental wellbeing while staying at home

FutureLearn offer a psychology & mental health courses to provide learners with vital skills, research, and training for their professional development. Coventry University developed the ‘Managing Mental Health and Stress’ course for people who want the opportunity to further understand the link between work-related stress and mental health problems.You can find this course at https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/managing-mental-health

Helping Your Community

Do you need assistance?

If you are unable to leave your house and you need someone to pick up prescriptions, run errands or to go shopping, please contact Gift. Their phone number is 020 8457 4429 and email is info@jgift.org. For more information visit their website, www.jgift.org.

Alternatively, please contact your local synagogue who will be able to assist you in grocery delivery and provide advice for any religious issues.

If you are planning to volunteer, its important to take the necessary precautions. Volunteering Barnet have put together a useful web page recommending ways to stay safe

Mitzvah Day have released this poster offering suggestions as to how to help in your local community

This form is currently circulating on social media. Please click on it to print out.

Manchester Volunteers and Volunteer Managers

All Manchester-based volunteering roles related the Covid-19 crisis are available to view on our Emergency web page

The Salford Community have created a Covid-19 Flyer. Click on the image to view or print it

If you are unable to leave your house and you need someone to pick up prescriptions, run errands or to go shopping, please contact The Fed. Their phone number is 0161 772 4800 (option 2) and email is advice@thefed.org.uk.

Additional support if you are unable to leave your home is being provided by Gift. They are able to help with shopping and prescription collection and delivery, phonecalls and virtual chats via Skype, Zoom, Facetime or Whatsapp. Please click here to download all the contact information for Gift Manchester

JAMH are offering mental health and wellbeing support. If you feel the need to talk to someone or ask for support, please JAMH on 07510 204844 and leave a message. They will get back to you. Alternatively, email at hello@jamh.org.uk. They are continuously updating the JAMH website and Facebook page on how to boost your mental health whilst at home.

Manchester Volunteer Managers

Salford CVS has published a guide for VCSE organisations https://www.salfordcvs.co.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-guide-vcse-organisations

Manchester Volunteer Centre – MACC has published guidelines on what you need to know about data protection : https://www.macc.org.uk/content/blog-community-groups-and-covid-19-what-you-need-know-about-data-protection

Social Media Groups

JVN and Light Up a Life have joined together to create a Facebook Group for people to find each other to create stronger, effective and targeted volunteering during this very difficult period. LUAL JVN Community Volunteering Group

If you would like to get involved on a local level these are some informal groups that have formed as a result of the crises to help people in need. Follow this link for a website operating nationwide

These Local support groups are not directly affiliated with JVN and we are not accountable for their activities.

Some local links include

Barnet Covid-19 Mutual Aid

Brent Covid 19 Mutual Aid

Brent Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group

Buckhurst Hill Coronavirus COVID-19 Mutual Aid

Canons Park/Stanmore Covid-19 Support group

Harrow Voluntary and Community Sector Forum

Herts Covid-19 Mutal Aid Group

Greater Manchester Mutual Aid Network

North West London - COVID-19 Support For The Vulnerable

Redbridge Covid 19 Mutual Aid