Leeds coronavirus volunteer programme - sign up to help those in need
More than 1,000 people have signed up to a city-wide volunteering programme to support vulnerable people across Leeds during the coronavirus outbreak.
Community Care Volunteering will bring together everyone who is able to help with tasks such as shopping deliveries, preparing meals or making check-in phone calls to people who are self-isolating.
It is being run by Leeds City Council and Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) to ensure systems are in place to care for people and communities during the spread of coronavirus, known officially as Covid-19.
The organisations said: "As the virus peaks over the coming weeks, support will be needed to fill likely gaps in social care for children, families and vulnerable adults in receipt of care packages.
"The response from Leeds residents to support others in their community has been outstanding so far, but a coordinated effort is important to ensure the most vulnerable people get help."
VAL is a registered charity, working all year round to support a thriving voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Leeds.
Explaining more about the programme, it said: "A coordinated effort is important to ensure that the most vulnerable people receive help and that all volunteers and recipients of support are safe. If you're healthy and low risk, you can sign-up to become a Community Care Volunteer and help others in Leeds.
"The programme is designed so that people can sign-up to volunteer in a range of different roles, depending on availability and preference.
"Volunteers can sign-up to offer practical support for vulnerable people (such as shopping deliveries, preparing meals, making check-in phone calls) or can sign-up as an informal volunteer to help within their own neighbourhood in more general ways."
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Volunteers can sign up by completing the online form here and a member of the VAL team will then get in touch to match them up with volunteering opportunities.
Virtual training and guidance will be provided for relevant roles.