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Covid-19 and Volunteering Safely

We know that many of you are keen to volunteer at this time to offer your support, but are also concerned about how to stay safe. To help you make an informed choice about your volunteering, we’ve gathered up the latest advice.

How to help safely (Government Guidance)

Whether you choose to volunteer will depend on the type of activities you would like to do, and the risks associated with that for you as an individual. We recommend that you check guidance on how to manage the risk of coronavirus before you volunteer.

Online and From Home Volunteering

There are a number of opportunities that you can get involved in from the comfort of your own home. We have put together a list of great opportunities.

Formal volunteering

Many charities and schools have stopped activities to help slow the spread of Covid-19. However there are still lots of opportunities to get involved in and ways you can help and support others at this time. Join Warwick Volunteers to receive the newsletter and browse opportunities. For these roles, it’s important that you follow the instructions of your volunteering coordinator. They will have risk assessed your activity to make sure you can do it as safely as possible. If you’re unsure or unhappy about anything, let them know or contact us at volunteers at warwick dot ac dot uk

Helping your neighbours (NCVO Guidance)

We’ve also seen lots of informal mutual aid groups pop up across the UK. If you’re outside the UK, there may well be something similar near where you live.

Before getting involved in this sort of informal volunteering, please read the NCVO Guidance. Also:

  • Let family and friends know what you’re doing.
  • Support family, friends and neighbours by phone or video call.
  • Stay at least two metres - about three steps - away from people you’re helping.
  • Offer to run errands for people but stay outside of people’s homes.
  • Keep washing your hands often for 20 seconds.
  • Don’t take on too much - it’s often better not to offer at all than to let someone down.
  • If you’re trying to help someone with very serious issues – don’t be afraid to flag with appropriate statutory services.

Advice if you're at increased risk from Covid-19

Students who are at increased risk from Covid-19 who choose to volunteer are asked to be especially diligent about covid safety measures. Clinically vulnerable students are strongly advised to follow government guidance.  

Frequently Asked Questions

On this page you will find answers to our most common Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at Warwick Volunteers. If you don't find what you're looking for, or you've got any remaining queries, email us at volunteers at warwick dot ac dot uk and we'll do our very best to help!