The Help in a Hospital projects are now all up and running, with shifts available to book on your dashboard in the community activities section. Early feedback from the volunteers and the hospitals has been extremely positive; the project is making a real difference.
Volunteers are still very much needed for these roles so if you are interested or would like anymore information please get in touch by emailing Buddy@communities1st.org.uk.
It is currently a quiet period for vaccination centres and some shifts may be cancelled at short notice due to low appointment numbers. We have adjusted the numbers of volunteers on shift for most of the centres, however we do expect them to become busy again very soon. You can book shifts for a vaccination centre through your volunteer dashboard.
Thank you for the important support you continue to give your community. You are helping to keep your friends and neighbours safe.
Best wishes,
Stephen Craker
Chief Executive
Nurses Cheer on Stevenage!
As part of the NHS nurse buddies scheme, the nurses were taken to watch the Stevenage football game. The home team won, and there was dancing from the nurses whenever a goal was scored!
We are still looking for nurse buddy volunteers to come along to events like this, and provide support to NHS international nurses. Sign up for this role through your dashboard.
Volunteer Blog
Our volunteer blog is full of stories about clients who have been helped by our volunteers!
If you're thinking about volunteering in a new role, have a read to see what a difference you could make!
Update for Vaccination / Hospital Volunteers
- The volunteer role description for Bishop Stortford hospital is available here.
- If you are volunteering at MedMart Pharmacy please park at Imperial Place. Mention at the Gate House that you are a volunteer and you will be guided to a parking space.
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If you have an admin role, you will need to watch this YouTube training video before you can attend your shift.
- The vaccine administration and patient assistant roles will require a DBS check. Volunteers will need to show three documents from the government list. If you already have a DBS, please email the certificate to podadmin@communities1st.org.uk.
- If you have already booked a shift in an administrative or patient assistant role, we will send you a zoom link to participate in the necessary training.
- New ID badges are currently being printed and can be collected from our office or posted to you. If you require a new badge, please email podadmin@communities1st.org.uk.
Volunteer Training Opportunities
February
Spot the Signs Suicide Awareness Prevention Training - Monday 21st February - 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Basic BSL Training Sessions - Wednesday 23rd February - 10am - 12 Noon
March
Talk Cancer Online Workshop - Tuesday 8th March - 10:30am - 12:30pm
Deaf Awareness Training sessions - Wednesday 23rd March - 10am - 12 Noon
Spot the Signs Suicide Awareness Prevention Training - Monday 28th March - 9:30am - 12:30pm
You can register for all our future training sessions through our online events calendar.
Expenses
Shopping delivery, prescription collection, and pulse oximetry volunteers
- To claim expenses please sign up to our dashboard and upload your expenses here, in order to speed up this process. Click here and create a login using the same email address that you originally signed up with. You will then see a list of your completed and pending activities.
- Please submit these expense claims within the same week that you carried out your shop, and if appropriate, provide a photo of your receipt. If an expense is not claimed in a timely manner it can lead to a client going into arrears, which can cause them stress and confusion. We appreciate your help in this matter.
- If this is the first shop you will first need to send in your bank details to Linda at accounts@communities1st.org.uk, so you can be reimbursed.
Vaccination centre volunteers
- If you haven't already uploaded your bank details, please do so through your online dashboard.
- If you are experiencing financial hardship because of your volunteering expenses, please email podadmin@communities1st.org.uk and we will reimburse you as soon as possible.
Drivers, litter pickers and other roles
- You will have been sent an expense claim form when you confirmed your job. To claim your expenses please complete this form and return it to the sender.