What help is available?

Our volunteers can help you with various day-to-day tasks that might have become more difficult during the pandemic.

Our volunteer services include:

• Community Response Volunteers on hand to help with shopping for food and essential items, and to collect and deliver prescriptions from the pharmacy.
• Check In and Chat Volunteers available for regular talks over the phone, where you can have a chat with a friendly voice.
• Check In and Chat Plus Volunteers provide a regular check-in by telephone to the same individual for a duration of 10 weeks, with typically 3 calls taking place each week.

Patient Transport is available but will need to be requested by a professional referrer such as your GP or other medical practitioner.

If you, or someone you know, or someone you care for would like to register for support from the volunteers or have any questions about the NHS Volunteer Responder programme please call 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week).

What happens after I register for support or if someone has registered me on my behalf?

Help with grocery shopping and other essentials

Once help has been requested, a volunteer will contact you by phone. You’ll be able to talk through your shopping list and arrange how you’ll pay. There are a number of payment options open to you.

Help with prescription collections

If you’re self-isolating or avoiding busier places, you can arrange for your prescriptions to be picked up by our volunteers from your pharmacy of choice. Volunteers have been provided with full guidance on transporting medicines.

Check In and Chat phone calls

Self-isolating or limiting contact with others can be tough going, so it’s important to talk regularly to other people while you’re at home. Our volunteers are on hand for a friendly chat and we’d be delighted to book you in for a call. 

You can schedule a one-off call or a regular check-in.