Published: Thursday 7 May 2020
Volunteers, support organisations and local community groups are continuing to collaborate and deliver exceptional services to aid the relief efforts around the Coronavirus pandemic, with over 1,500 volunteers registered at the Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea.
Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea (VCKC) has recruited and referred volunteers to several local organisations running Coronavirus services.
Jess Millwood, CEO at AgeUK Kensington and Chelsea, said:
“Volunteers have been a crucial part of Age UK Kensington and Chelsea’s Coronavirus emergency response. Hundreds of people have stepped up to help deliver care packages, meals and medication to older people without any community networks. They are also providing a friendly regular check in and chat over the phone to isolated older people.
“We are now reaching over a thousand older people who are most at need through our emergency response thanks to the support of our fantastic volunteers. We’ve also had lots of feedback from volunteers saying that pitching in and helping out has helped take their minds off the difficult daily news around Coronavirus and given a boost to their own happiness and wellbeing. It’s win-win!”
Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea (ADKC) has focused its volunteer project, established in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, on reaching the more isolated members of ADKC who may be unable to access other emergency response options.
Mary Ann Mallet, Volunteer Coordinator at ADKC said:
“VCKC have been instrumental in helping us set up the project and requesting volunteers. The response enabled us to get the project moving and begin delivering essential food supplies and vital prescriptions to those most in need.”
While community groups are working tirelessly during the pandemic, residents are joining together to pool their skills and time to give back to their communities through neighbourly groups, like Mutual Aid K&C and Next Door.
In one of the self-organised Mutual Aid groups in the North of the Borough, and working alongside 35 dedicated Mutual Aid volunteers giving their time to preparing 300 care packages at alongside the Tabernacle Christian Centre, Marianne Alapini, a Mutual Aid volunteer, said: “Only acts of kindness and tender loving care are going to get us through this devastating challenge together.”
If you’re interested in joining the brilliant volunteers dedicating their time to help others, visit www.voluntarywork.org.uk to find out more.