Lancashire Volunteer Partnership, together with Our Lancashire are urging people to sign up to support their local community through this Coronavirus pandemic.
Both organisations have been set up with the support of Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner to join together local communities and support people in need. During these times of public health emergency, they have come together to provide a joined up and Lancashire wide support network for those affected by the current crisis.
Lancashire Volunteer Partnership is made up of public services across Lancashire and already supports over 5,000 public service volunteers. However, new volunteers are needed to help vulnerable people, either as a telephone befriender or a more active role supporting a local district community hub.
Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said:
“There are many ways the public can help vulnerable people in their community and we’ve already seen some amazing offers of support across social media and most recently through the Government NHS volunteer scheme.
We are fortunate in Lancashire to already have Lancashire Volunteer Partnership established who are now completely focused on how they can support people in need at this time. They are seeking to recruit additional Community Support Volunteers who can support vulnerable people, either as a telephone befriender or a more active role supporting a local district community hub. If you think you could help please sign up.”
Over the past two weeks almost 150 people have so far volunteered to become a telephone befriender to assist those who are social isolated and vulnerable. However, with hundreds of people needing support, more volunteers are needed.
Our Lancashire is also supporting district councils with its team of engagement officers working within community hubs across the County alongside Lancashire County Council to help coordinate support for those in need and enable access to their network of 75,000 group members.
Community Hubs are currently recruiting for ‘Community Help’ volunteers to deliver a range of activities aimed to ensure that vulnerable people get the support they require during period of isolation. This may be as simple as a weekly welfare call to help to identify any immediate needs, to picking up shopping, to help pack up, deliver food and daily essentials parcels.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering, or who feels isolated, vulnerable and in need of volunteer support can get help through the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership by calling 01772 416417 or visiting lancsvp.org.uk. Local community groups can be found at ourlancashire.org.uk.