Volunteer support for the Island during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in supporting volunteering on the Isle of Wight during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The Island has been fortunate to benefit from a large number of people coming forward to offer support in a wide range of ways and in some instances/areas there have been more volunteers than tasks for them to do.

However, as the crisis evolves, the Isle of Wight Council and it's partners in the voluntary sector are keen to understand what skills and capacity might be available moving forward to help support some of our most vulnerable residents, both as lock down for them extends and potentially once lock down starts to be loosened.

One concern for the wider voluntary sector is that it might be about to lose a number of its older volunteers for a period of time, just when demand for its services could be increasing following lockdown.

This survey therefore has two purposes, to identify both how volunteers might be able to help the council in the next few months of the crisis and how volunteers might be able to help the broader voluntary sector moving forwards.

We are therefore asking you to complete this survey to allow us to build this knowledge and come back to you with specific volunteering opportunities as and when they are needed.

Please be assured that all volunteers able to help with crisis related issues would be provided with the relevant induction, training and personal protective equipment (in line with guidance issued by Public Health England. More information can be viewed at the following link - PPE_Guidance.