The battle against Covid-19 is the biggest challenge we’ve faced in Britain in a generation or more. Beyond government rules and guidelines on meeting people, social distancing and hygiene, there are other things we can do. Something we can all do is check-in on someone who lives alone. A chat on Zoom or a phone call could lift someone’s spirits if they’re isolated or feeling a bit flat.
On another level there’s formal volunteering – something I looked into and signed-up for recently. I became a volunteer for Covid vaccinations.
It made me think about people who are in the position to help – can you do the same? It’s good to be able to give something back to the community if you have the time. Aside from that, and on a business level, the sooner we get back to something resembling ‘normal’ in business (as well as in life) the better for all of us.
I applied through: www.goodsamapp.org/NHSvolunteerresponders. It was a fairly simple process. I had to provide ID – which is pretty standard with anything you’re doing these days. They just want to check that you’re a real person; you are who you say you are. You don’t have to do a DBS check or anything like that. The role I’m doing is called Vaccination Support Volunteer, which basically means being a steward. I’m not giving injections or doing anything on the medical side of things. I’m making sure people go to the right place, that they have the right PPE and all that sort of thing.
It’s very slick how it works. You download the app and then let them know when you’re available and you’ll be allocated a shift. In the UK we seem to be getting through the vaccinations at a reasonable pace – which has to be a positive for all of us.
I’m pleased to be in a position to be able to offer some of my time at the moment. The quicker we get Covid-19 under control the better.
