For information about COVID-19, please visit: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
H&F CAN is the volunteer community aid network launched by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to support vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
Working with the voluntary and charity sector, and alongside the ward and street-level mutual aid groups, H&F CAN offers support to residents who don’t have friends or family close by to help them. Our taskforce of volunteers will help those most in need at the time of their greatest need.
Do you need urgent support with food, loneliness or isolation?
Or are you worried about a friend, neighbour or relative?
Freephone: 0800 1456095 (9am to 7pm)
Email: can@lbhf.gov.uk
For further information, please visit:
Volunteers
As you may already be aware, LBHF has set up H&F CAN, which offers residents a route to volunteer to help others during the Covid-19 crisis. It is very heart-warming that so far, over 1,000 people have registered to volunteer – what an amazing response.
In terms of deploying volunteers – those who have registered on the H&F CAN may be signposted to local organisations who may be able to use their help. As Covid-19 continues to evolve, local organisations are likely to receive increasing requests for help from both existing and new clients. If you think you may be able to make use of additional volunteers, please take a couple of minutes to complete a quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZFLQY6N
Information on volunteering opportunities, and local organisations who have already indicated that they can support additional volunteers, please follow this link: Volunteering opportunities 25.3.20
Supporting volunteers
Volunteers obviously need to be supported and trained. To support this, Sobus have produced a template Covid-19 volunteer handbook, which includes a template Volunteer Agreement, which Hammersmith & Fulham organisations are very welcome to adapt and use. COVID-19 Volunteer Handbook SOBUS
We have produced three short information videos for volunteers – you may well have your own training resources available, but you are very welcome to make use of these:
Covid-19 volunteering advice SOBUS
Volunteering and financial transactions: We also have a short guide for residents and organisations around Handling Money Safely – particularly for those that need help with shopping which will involve a financial transaction between the user and the volunteer.
Service updates
We are asking organisations to update us on their current service offer – including whether they are able to support residents with shopping, medicine collection or escorting to urgent appointments. The latest information we have received on services for Older People is attached, and will be updated regularly. We are planning to produce similar updates for services for BAME communities shortly.
The most recent Sobus Covid-19 bulletin with Covid-19 funding can be found here: Covid-19 bulletin 15.05.20
Business continuity planning: For advice and information on business continuity planning, please see the attached guide COVID-19 business continuity planning and Planning your exit strategy
