Community
Join the army of volunteers The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) says Covid-19 has seen vast numbers step up to the plate to help the NHS and their communities, writes Ray Philpott
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uring its long and proud history, the RVS has consistently proved to be one of the UK’s leading volunteering organisations, and never more so than during the Covid-19 pandemic. Founded in 1938 as the Women’s Voluntary Service for Air Raid Precautions, it has once again shown its worth at the country’s hour of greatest need. The charity successfully recruited 437,000 NHS Volunteer Responders to play a vital role in keeping health services going, a welcome and much needed addition to its existing 18,000 voluntary workers. RVS volunteers have been playing a vital role during the crisis, stepping into the breach to help people and communities disproportionately affected by Covid-19.
They provide vital support services, such as delivering medicine to the housebound, running telephone companionship services for worried and isolated people, and driving patients to and from busy hospitals. Rising to the challenge Rebecca Kennelly, RVS Director of Volunteering, says: “Our core aim is simple: to find as many volunteers as we can to support vulnerable and struggling individuals and groups and make it a rewarding experience for everyone involved.” A big challenge during the pandemic has been ensuring our volunteers and clients are able to interact safely within the government guidelines. Understandably volunteer roles have had to adapt and
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