Get volunteering in Lockdown 3

Got a bit of time on your hands? Then why not look into volunteering.

As we reach and pass the milestone of a year of COVID-19, more and more people are finding themselves struggling with the long-term effects of the pandemic. So, it’s more important than ever that we keep the community spirit of the previous lockdown’s alive.

While you may have limited opportunities to get out and about to volunteer, there are lots of great things you can do from home too. Here are just a few of the great projects that are going on around the country.

Foodcycle

Foodcycle supports the hungry and lonely by serving tasty lunches and dinners. During lockdown they have been running a Cook and Collect takeaway service, as well as Check-in and Chat. There are still plenty of different volunteer roles available, so check them out.

onHand app

onHand pairs volunteers with older adults to help them out and chat. Whether it’s shopping, medication drops or just someone to talk to, the app-based matching service finds volunteers in the local area.

The Mix

Lockdown has had a big impact on the lives of young people. At The Mix you can volunteer to help through peer-to-peer support in the online community or one-to-one support online or via the phone.

Shout

Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. They are currently looking for people who can commit to volunteering during the night and early hours.

Bookmark

In an average class, 8 children leave primary school unable to read well. Bookmark gives children reading and writing confidence through a 6-week reading programme which involves two 30-minute virtual reading sessions a week. Want to help children learn to love reading? Check out their website.

The Access Project

With The Access Project, you can become a volunteer tutor to bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds and help them beat the odds to get to a top university.

United Nations Online Volunteering

Why not change the world through online volunteering. There are loads of services and skills that the UN volunteering service are looking for, from Art & Design to Tech Development, Translation and more.

As we embrace another year with COVID, we want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has done their bit to help others during this challenging time. So thank you to the NHS staff, the cleaners, the teachers and the volunteers (to name just a few).

Keep up the good work.