Edition 5 – Wednesday 22 April
British Red Cross publishes free guide for coronavirus responders
The British Red Cross has developed a new step-by-step guide, available via this link, to help local charities, mutual aid groups and individuals to support people in their communities safely.
Shaun Delaney, volunteering development manager at NCVO, said: “This is a really simple and practical way for people to build their confidence … I’d recommend it to any charity or group working with the public right now.”
Practical support for organisations using volunteers
NCVO has a useful page, available via this link, with all sorts of information regarding volunteers, including:
• Paying for goods or services
• Safeguarding
• DBS checks
• Data protection
• Recognising and reporting scams
Volunteer insurance
If you work with volunteers, you should consider the types of insurance cover needed to protect them and your organisation. We understand that separate guidance on NHS volunteers is that they do not need additional insurance, or even to contact their insurance companies, if they are working on Covid-19 response. Click this link for further information on volunteer insurance.
Edition 2 – Wednesday 1 April
Quick videos to help volunteers
Four video animations have been produced and are available on the CVS Network website, available via this link. These videos provide bite size and accessible information on: supporting volunteers; Supporting safeguarding Practical; telephone befriending Supporting and advice for volunteers Supporting. They are each between 2 and 4 minutes long, and well worth directing people to.
Helping you to manage volunteers
Community First have written 3 documents to support you in managing volunteers during the current crisis: click this link for the Covid 19 Volunteer Handbook; the Supporting Handling Money Guide can be found through this link ; and click this link for the Volunteer Sample Risk Assessment.
Do’s and Don’ts
A good ‘do’s and don’ts sheet for volunteers and pop up groups can be found via this link.
