FAQs for signing up as a Volunteer Responder

You can join us by signing up via the website goodsamapp.org/NHS^[3]. Once you have completed the application form you will be sent an email to verify your account. You will be asked to enter some basic personal details and complete an ID check, which is carried out by our partners Reed Screening. You will be redirected to their site once you click on the link. After you’ve completed your ID check you can then return to the GoodSAM website where you can select which of our volunteer activities you are interested in.

All volunteers need to sign up as individuals and complete the necessary ID checks, Driver Declaration and Status and DBS checks (if applicable).

Our system is not able to issue joint tasks. Each task has an individual ID number which is recorded on a volunteer's GoodSAM profile for volunteers to claim expenses etc.

If a volunteer needs a personal assistant to support their access needs please get in touch with our support team who can advise you.

You will need either a valid photo driving licence, a valid Passport from any country or a National Identity Card. Find out more about ID checking.^[4]

Please see our ID checking^[4] process.

The ID check is an instant online process if all the information is correct and verified.

Once the ID checking process has begun if you need technical assistance, you can contact Reed Helpdesk on 0161 537 3970^[5] or email [email protected]^[6]

The DBS must be registered with the DBS Update Service. Find out more about DBS checking^[7].

Find out more about The GoodSAM app.^[8]

Yes, there are various activities to choose from and you can sign up for as many as you are able to support. However, some activities require different levels of DBS checks which you can apply for or if you already have one needs to be issued in the last 12 months. If you are looking to add multiple activities then we suggest you choose the activity with the highest level of DBS check first. Find out more about levels of checks^[9].

Please check your junk/clutter inbox in the first instance.  If you cannot locate the email, please visit goodsamapp.org/login^[10] and enter your email address in the ‘Lost the verification email?’ box and you will receive another email. If the system does not recognise your email then you haven’t completed the full registration and you will need to register again.

Thank you for stepping forward and signing up. Once your ID and/or DBS has been completed, you will be sent a link to download the GoodSAM App and we can start matching you to local requests for support. Download the app (GoodSAM Responder) on Apple/Google Play stores and log in. Don’t forget to switch to ‘on duty’ when you are available to receive tasks.

If you could apply through goodsamapp.org/NHS^[3]  this will allow us to make sure we can assign you to specific local support requests as part of Volunteer Responders. We are delighted you want to continue to support us in these challenging times.

You will receive an alert on your phone when there is a request for support near you. You can accept or reject this alert. This information is available in your Getting You Started Guide. Find out more in The GoodSAM app^[8]

GoodSAM is a platform that has been saving many lives for the last 10 years. It alerts those trained (from resuscitation to cardiac arrest) to nearby incidents, while the ambulance is enroute. It is because of our technology of coordinating volunteers to those in need, that the system has been adopted for the Volunteer Responders programme.

Yes, please upload a photo. This will be used as your ID when supporting person or supporting partner. Please makes sure you have your phone with you at all times when volunteering. You could be asked to provide ID at any time.

Yes, you can add and remove activities on the GoodSAM website, although you will need the appropriate level of ID check required by the activity.  

A link to the Getting You Started Guide will be included in the first email you receive when you registered. This is the same email that requested you to verify your email address. You can also find these guides on this website in each of the activity sections^[11].

At this stage the app does not support people who are blind or partially sighted. We will update any guidance documents with relevant information if this becomes available.

Volunteers using their own car for voluntary purposes to support others should check the information on the Association of British Insurers website^[12] before undertaking any driving activity as you may not be insured, the information includes a list of insurers who do not charge extra for volunteer driving. 

You won’t receive an ID card your ID card is your profile page on the GoodSAM app, this is what the police and the person you are supporting will use to identify you as a volunteer.

If you have come across anything referring to a GoodSAM identity card, you are trying to register on the app instead of logging in. Please log in using your email address and password that you supplied at sign up stage.

You will only be asked to support the Volunteer Responder programme. Whilst the app is used for several organisations such as paramedics, this is completely separate.

As long as you are able to download the app (GoodSAM Responder) on Apple/Google Play store then you will be able to use the app on your phone.

If you no longer wish to be a Volunteer Responder, please go to the GoodSAM app, and use the “Manage my preferences” tab to click “Fully remove me”.

Your data will be removed from our systems in line with our privacy notice and you will no longer receive emails.

This means that you will also no longer be able to volunteer as a Volunteer Responder and will not be able to search for tasks and shifts on the GoodSAM app.

Unfortunately not, we can only have one volunteer allocated to 1 email address.

Please go in to your settings phone > apps > responder app and then check permissions and ensure that camera toggle and storage toggle is set to on. Also ensure that your phone is not in battery saving mode as even when these settings are on it can restrict permissions and notifications.

Volunteer Responders must be over 18 years old. If you are under 18 and interested in volunteering, you may be able to get involved in home-based volunteering opportunities through your local hospital, school, college or youth groups. You may need a parent or carer’s permission for some local volunteering.

Currently this is only an initiative for England.

Yes it absolutely fine, and excellent that you have chosen to register and support. When your ID has been verified you will receive an email to download the App, on this you just need to ensure when you can support that you make sure the ON DUTY toggle is clicked ON, then when you are unavailable for support click the On DUTY toggle to OFF. That way you will never be sent requests for support when you are unavailable. 

Unfortunately, we require a smartphone for the full functionality to work correctly.

After you have downloaded the GoodSAM app, you will need to log in with the email address and password you used when registering. Please don’t try and re-register via the app. When you are available to carry out support requests, ensure your ‘on duty’ option is switched on and when you are not available remember to turn this off.  Step by step guidance can be found in your Getting You Started Guide.

If you have your ON DUTY toggle as OFF you will not be allocated any requests for support. If the ON DUTY toggle is ON and you are requested for support and are not able to assist, then when you receive an alert you can click on REJECT.

No, only commit to what you can. Just ensure when you are available that you have your ON DUTY toggle set as ON and select OFF when you are not available. If you do not want to accept a specific request, click REJECT on the GoodSAM app.

All support requests/alerts will come through the GoodSAM app. 

You can either “DROP THE CALL” via the GoodSAM app. If you have been delayed please inform the person you are supporting.

Yes this is fine as long as you are able to transport goods safely.

Community Response Volunteers don’t need to be able to drive to carry out tasks, using public transport or a bike is accepted. Just be mindful to set expectations with the person being supported as to the weight of goods you can manage at any one time and be sure not to overload yourself.