Although COVID-19 is putting a lot of strain on individuals, families, and our public services, we are also seeing the best of our community – people volunteering to make sure vulnerable or isolated residents get the support they need.

Please read on for a list of opportunities for those wishing to volunteer in our area: 

NHS Volunteer Responders: You can sign up via this app to help in a number of ways, by collecting and delivering essentials to older or vulnerable people self-isolating, to checking in with them by telephone to see how they are coping: https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS

Sunderland City Council have established a volunteer platform to link people wishing to help out with groups and organisations in their area. Please follow the links below depending on which council ward you live in:

Houghton, Hetton, Copt Hill, Shiney Row: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/bc996054-12fc-43d4-aef4-8654084e3fe4/Activity/0b4076cd-6e6f-4751-9728-f2cb90759898/1?fbclid=IwAR36XWUvqDiU-jGf1TORiJTaDcfbrzhXS0hh_LZZ4AxelCoXsfOWvhZtFrU

St. Chad’s, Sandhill, Silksworth: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/bc996054-12fc-43d4-aef4-8654084e3fe4/Activity/b0c4c0bf-cfcf-4e16-9afc-60ef90057cd9/1?fbclid=IwAR1fAueYARYZH7YQRS1YwST9jU98fwxf8Nv-LZqX3WaXo0BcJTUn3lHubrg

Doxford: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/bc996054-12fc-43d4-aef4-8654084e3fe4/Activity/272a00e9-e428-45a5-a8ee-8cd3befc18f0/1?fbclid=IwAR0u-NHa1YY-sk07InHtho1ye1cq4WA87iziCgPXl3s7ytArj_kQL_GhOUM

Age UK: If you want to look out for elderly people in your area, Age UK have a list of practical steps to take as well as advice on volunteering: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/discover/2020/03/ways-to-help-older-people-coronavirus/

COVID Mutual Aid: If you have set up a mutual aid group, you can register it on the following website to make it more accessible: https://covidmutualaid.org/

To follow local updates and receive volunteering opportunities: 

Houghton Response Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3128325240545190/?ref=share

Houghton, Hetton, Copt Hill, Shiney Row: https://www.facebook.com/CoalfieldSunderlandCommunity/

Doxford: https://www.facebook.com/EastSunderlandCommunity/

Silksworth, St. Chads, Sandhill: https://www.facebook.com/WestSunderlandCommunity/

If you are aware of any other local volunteering opportunities, please feel free to share these with me by email: bridget.phillipson.mp@parliament.uk