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Covid19 Community Response

16/04/2020

During this time of unprecedented challenge, RVS is privileged to be playing a vital role in the collaborative response to the C19 situation alongside Rushmoor Borough Council and North East Hants and Farnham CCG.

RVS are in contact with voluntary groups across the Borough who are offering support and are:

  • mapping the services which are still being run,
  • identifying the new services available to support Rushmoor residents,
  • recruiting volunteers and matching them with services/activities needing support

The primary resources which has been launched are county wide and local helplines. Callers to the Hampshire number will either be referred to specialist services (care and health) or to their local helpline. The Operation Rushmoor Community Action (ORCA) Helpline will provide information and refer people on to the local groups set up by residents to help the community during the Covid-19 pandemic, who will be able to help with shopping etc to local support organisations.

This is RVS’s current document outlining how our own services are responding to the current Covid19 crisis.

RVS response to Covid19

Volunteering

Lots of enquiries about how people can contribute during the COVID-19 crisis have been received by many organisations. Some organisations might have to stop their volunteering activities but there will some organisations that will have a bigger demand from service users and therefore need of additional volunteers. If your organisation is looking for volunteers to support your services and vulnerable Rushmoor residents during the coronavirus crisis email volunteering@rvs.org.uk

Thank you to the more than 300 amazing people who have volunteered to support the local efforts. RVS are currently processing the applications. If you have submited your form please be patient as we process them all.

If we haven’t been already been in touch with you, we will be shortly.

Because of the incredible response by the whole of the local communities we have suspended taking more offers of help for the time being, so that we can concentrate of deploying the people who have already offered their help.

If you are unable to formally volunteer –

 The simplest thing everyone can do right now is to look out for their neighbours and offer help with shopping and other errands if people cannot get out of the house.  And it’s not just about neighbours who are self-isolating, stretched medical staff and other key workers might also appreciate an offer of help.

Remember it’s a marathon not a sprint – we’re not at the peak and the time we need most people will likely be in a few weeks’ time. So for now the best thing to do is just check in on neighbours.

Some tips to stay safe when supporting others:

 Support family, friends and neighbours by phone or video call,

  • Offer to run errands for people but staying outside of people’s homes,
  • Stay at least 2 metres – about 3 steps – away from people you are helping,
  • Keep washing your hands often for 20 seconds,
  • Let family and friends know where you are going and what you are doing,
  • More advice can be found here – https://youtu.be/0RSnmnTae74 ,
  • If you have general concerns about people’s wellbeing or safety call the Hampshire Hotline on 0300 555 1386
  • If you think that someone is in imminent danger dial 999,