National Volunteering Scheme

Due to the upcoming winter, which if you know anything about this virus, then you will know this may very well be the roughest winter in NHS history, I think it is important to get ahead now and start a national volunteering scheme whereby younger people (perhaps up to the mid-40s) can offer to help out in their local communities (provided they are healthy, and at low risk).

It will be central to the success of this scheme that each council is given as much power as possible in how best to direct volunteers in their area, and that centralisation is avoided as far as possible. The services should range from supporting the NHS to delivering shopping for vulnerable to even trying to sustain council library programmes.

Again, I cannot stress decentralisation enough.

Why the contribution is important

It is no secret that unemployment has risen, and there will be a higher demand in supporting vulnerable individuals. There will also be added risk to newly vulnerable people as a result of the adverse weather that I am concerned that may be more noticeable this year as a result of climate change.

There are groups online for these things - which formulated back in March - which reflects exactly how Scots are willing to step up when they need to, but quite frankly I don't think that March will compare to the difficulties we will see in the coming four months, and if we want to save as many lives as possible, then we need to make sure schemes like this are official, well-strategised and well-advertised so that no one is left behind.

by patrioT123 on October 07, 2020 at 07:16AM

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Comments

  • Posted by JaneM October 07, 2020 at 19:26

    I agree that Local Authority and 3rd Sector coordination crucial as it can be more targeted based on local knowledge , context and existing services.
    My personal experience of the National scheme was very negative - completed 4 different forms got lots of emails but no volunteering. I linked with local CVS and was able to do some befriending phone calls for people shielding or self isolating.
    Best to focus on outcomes rather than sound bites related to central scheme.
    Encouraging younger people who would benefit from the experience as well as offering their own skills is to be encouraged.
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