People in Great Yarmouth are being urged to help deliver food and medicine to vulnerable people.
The call comes as the Volunteer Responders programme, delivered by Royal Voluntary Service and the GoodSAM app on behalf of the NHS and Department of Health and Social Care, expands to support more people and communities across England.
Great Yarmouth needs 100 volunteers to step forward to support as the Volunteer Responders programme recruits for two newly relaunched volunteer activities, Community Response and Pick Up and Deliver.
Through Community Response, volunteers collect and deliver food shopping, prescriptions and essential items to vulnerable people in the community helping to support their health and wellbeing.
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Through Pick Up and Deliver, volunteers help transport medicines or small medical equipment items to people’s homes or community settings from NHS sites, helping to support hospital discharge and prevent admissions.
Volunteering is completely flexible and is managed through the GoodSAM smartphone app.
Community Response and Pick Up and Deliver were initially launched during the pandemic to support shielding and isolated individuals.
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Sam Ward, deputy CEO of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “Today, the need for volunteers remains as vital as ever. We are urgently, asking those who can, to provide support to their communities and volunteer.
“Just giving a couple of hours, at a time that suits you, can make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of local people across Great Yarmouth.”
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Those ready to make a real difference can visit the website for more details on the activities and how to sign up at nhscarevolunteerresponders.org
The roles aim to ease pressure on the health and social care system by providing additional support to help people in need.
By helping with these activities, volunteers will support the health and care sector and complement the existing workforce.
Volunteers do not replace the existing highly valued paid health and care staff or take on their roles and responsibilities.
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