"I couldn't sit around": why a Leeds teacher felt compelled to volunteer amid the coronavirus pandemic

When Garnel Singh Gataura first heard the UK was entering lockdown in late March his first thought was to see how he could help during the crisis.

Garnel, who works as a teacher in Wakefield but lives in Leeds, has seen his job hours severely reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A quick search and he found Voluntary Action Leeds who were in desperate need of help, before he knew it he was fully trained and ready to go.

"I just felt like I wasn't doing anything useful," he told the YEP.

"I wanted to help. I initially tried to join up to the volunteers with the NHS but I discovered the Leeds one when I was searching for what I could do.

"I felt guilty to get paid for not contributing. I usually help young people, and I haven't been able to do that other than the odd day where I have looked after key worker students.

"I just couldn't sit around and not help. If I did I would've just felt guilty.

"I've been dropping off food parcels almost everyday, up to 10 families sometimes. I might also be asked to do shopping or even just go to the pharmacist to pick up prescriptions for people."

Garnel is just one of nearly 8,000 people who got in touch with the non-profit organisation following their call to arms to help the most vulnerable across Leeds amid the worldwide outbreak.

"It sounds awful but it's very real," he continued.

"There are people who aren't going to get food, they will be hungry if we don't get them food parcels. They are actually relying on it as an essential service.

"I've had people who have been waiting for me to do my drop because they haven't had anything for a while."

And if anyone was thinking of signing up to be a volunteer, he has a clear message.

"I would say one hundred per cent go for it," Garnel concluded. "It's an opportunity not just to give back but also to help revive that community spirit because I think as a society we are losing that.

"We all work as a team and it's a wonderful feeling."