Royal Voluntary Service issues fresh call for High Peak volunteers in 'hour of need' for NHS

The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) is urging High Peak residents to volunteer an hour a week to help their community as the winter lockdown begins to bite.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The charity’s Hour of Need campaign is hoping to revive the huge waves of generosity and solidarity which arose last spring.

RVS spokesperson Sarah Bray said: “It’s already been an incredibly tough year for both our clients and the NHS, and the new lockdown presents even more challenges.

“The truth is that the more volunteers we have on board, the faster our communities will recover. If you can spare even just an hour a week you’ll be doing an amazing thing.”

Volunteers could make all the difference to vulnerable neighbours this winter.Volunteers could make all the difference to vulnerable neighbours this winter.
Volunteers could make all the difference to vulnerable neighbours this winter.

Thousands of volunteers are required nationwide to help protect the NHS by supporting the most vulnerable patients to stay safe and well.

The charity’s research has found that more than 4.9million over-50s, many with health conditions and without family nearby, say they would benefit from help this winter.

In Yorkshire and the Humber, 29 per cent of people are concerned about the lack of support their friends or family will have access to throughout winter.

Requests for help from the vulnerable and the NHS are rapidly increasing and local volunteers are needed support with a range of services.

There are a variety of roles available to suit either flexible or regular time commitments.

Needs include helping transporting vulnerable people to or from hospital and supporting their recovery, serving refreshments to NHS staff and patients, shopping, friendly phone calls, and stewarding at vaccination centres.

Since the crisis began, some 360,000 people have answered more than 1.3m requests for help via the NHS volunteer responders programme.

The Hour of Need campaign is being supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, whose spokesperson Lisa Belletty said: “We’re delighted that lottery players have been able to support RVS in its incredible efforts throughout the crisis so far.

“We now stand by the charity in its call for thousands more volunteers to help us in the next phase of the fight against Covid-19.”

To find out how you could help, go to www.hourofneed.org.uk.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together.” – Nancy Fielder, editor.