Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller is urging constituents to join 'army' of volunteers to support vulnerable residents during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Basingstoke Voluntary Action is working with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to provide a source of further information and guidance and matching suitable volunteers to community groups. BVA is bringing together a community network to support community organisations and understand where additional support is required across the borough.
To find out how you can help or if you are thinking about starting a group in your area or have already done so, please visit www.bvaction.org.uk/coronavirus-volunteering or call 01256 423852 to register your group and find contact details for accessing guidance and support.
Nationally on 24 March of a scheme to recruit 250,000 volunteers to help the NHS support vulnerable people with tasks including delivering medicine from pharmacies, driving patients to appointments, bring them home from hospital, or making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home. To find out more, and sign up, please visit - https://www.goodsamapp.org/nhs
Maria said; “There is significant community work already taking place in Basingstoke, with a number of different groups and initiatives having already been set up, such as Basingstoke Covid 19 Community Group, working with established local charity Spotlight, who have shown the power of bringing people together to work for the good of the whole community.
I also welcome the Government’s scheme to recruit 250,000 volunteers to help the NHS support vulnerable people with tasks including delivering medicine from pharmacies, driving patients to appointments, bring them home from hospital, or making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home.
I urge all residents to think about volunteering to ensure that those who are most vulnerable are well supported through this difficult time. “
“Every Basingstoke resident who can, should be playing their part: supporting a neighbour in need, keeping in touch with family or friends. If we all play our part, we can slow down the spread of infection, reduce the number of people who are sick at any one time, and so protect the NHS, and save lives.”
Advice from the Government and the NHS is changing as circumstances change. It is important that you look at the Government website for the most up to date information - www.gov.uk/coronavirus