Leeds people shielding can turn to Community Care Volunteers as third Covid lockdown begins

But Voluntary Action Leeds chairperson Chris Hollins says the need for everyday acts of neighbourliness on our own streets - within the limits of the new restrictions - must not be underestimated when it comes to combating loneliness and isolation.

"It's not just the formal volunteers, the people and communities of Leeds have done a fantastic job over the past few months and just kept things together," he said.

"The key message we would like to get across is the continued need for support and neighbourliness at a local level."

More than 8,000 Community Care Volunteers answered the call last spring as Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) and the city council asked those able to help the most vulnerable to consider signing up.

Each was assigned to one of 27 Community Care Hubs covering the 33 council wards in Leeds, with volunteers then matched up with individuals and communities in need of support.

VAL says their vital role in carrying out tasks such as picking up prescriptions, delivering shopping, and making check-in calls will continue throughout the latest lockdown and for as long as it is needed.

Mr Hollins said: "The hubs have been working throughout Leeds providing cover over Christmas and they're still able to continue to provide services under the new rules. Volunteers are still able to travel under the new system and they can continue to provide socially-distanced services that can't be done virtually.

"The hubs have done a brilliant job over the last few months and they've been fantastic in responding to the need and as circumstances have changed.

"We're fairly confident at the moment that they can continue to meet the current level of demand. The volunteers are all bedded in and everything appears to be running smoothly under the circumstances."

While that programme may not be in urgent need of additional helpers at present, individual charities and organisations in the city are seeking volunteers of their own as always to support the running of their services.

Voluntary roles currently being advertised via VAL's Volunteer Centre Leeds platform include a driver for Touchstone's emergency food and support service, foodpickers at FareShare Yorkshire and helpers at Vulnerable Citizen Support's welfare centre in Armley.

Mr Hollins urged those interested in getting involved in any kind of voluntary work to visit the online volunteer centre and with the Be Collective system that supports it.

The first lockdown also prompted a national drive for NHS volunteers that resulted in more than 500,000 people signing up in under 24 hours to lend a hand to those having to isolate.

Co-ordinated by the Royal Voluntary Service, the NHS Volunteer Responders programme is continuing to ensure that those interested can help local communities wherever they are able during the pandemic.

Roles include helping to transport kit and medication between NHS sites, helping patients get to medical appointments, making check-in calls to people at risk of loneliness while self-isolating, and delivering shopping and other essential to people self-isolating.

Now the programme has also begun recruiting stewards for vaccination sites who will help ensure social distancing and keep the process running smoothly.

Anyone shielding or isolating who needs support from the Community Care Volunteers can call 0113 376 0330 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

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