You can volunteer during coronavirus (COVID-19) with an organisation or group, for example a charity, the NHS or a local volunteer-run group. Find out about volunteering with a charity or voluntary organisation . Check if your local council has volunteering opportunities . You should choose your volunteering activity based on your risk of getting seriously ill with coronavirus. Volunteer with the NHS If you want to help the NHS as a general volunteer, apply for the NHS volunteer responder scheme . You’ll need to check if the scheme is recruiting in your area. To volunteer in a hospital, including if you’re a doctor or nurse, contact your local hospital trust . If you want to give blood, read the guidance about donating blood during coronavirus . You can also sign up to the NHS COVID-19 vaccine registry if you want to take part in a coronavirus vaccine research study. Help people in your local area You can help others by doing activities like picking up shopping and offering support on the phone. This includes: family, friends and neighbours who are at high risk from coronavirus or who prefer not to go out people who are feeling lonely or isolated staff and volunteers in key worker roles You can also join a mutual aid group . A mutual aid group is a local volunteer-run initiative where people come together to help each other. Protect those you help If you’re worried about someone’s health, contact the NHS or check NHS coronavirus advice online . If you’re helping someone who’s staying at home, you should not enter their house unless it’s absolutely necessary to do so. You should follow social distancing guidelines if you do have to go indoors. It may not always be possible to follow social distancing guidelines, for example if you’re providing personal care to someone. You should consider whether the activity is essential and follow working safely guidance . If you’re helping someone who’s not a friend or family member You should show identification when you call at their home. You should not: ask for their credit or debit card numbers, or other financial information take their address and phone number, unless you need it to do a task pressure them into giving you any unnecessary information You can find out how to help others safely on the British Red Cross website . Contact the police if you think someone you’re helping is being abused or neglected. Phone 999 in an emergency or 101 if the person is not in immediate danger.

Testing and vaccination

Find out how to get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) . If you volunteer in an essential role and have COVID-19 symptoms, you’ll be prioritised for a test. Who can get a vaccine You can get vaccinated if you’re a volunteer in an eligible group . This includes volunteers in frontline health and social care roles. If you qualify for a vaccine because of your age or a clinical condition, you’ll be vaccinated at the same time as other people in your area. The NHS will let you know when you can get a vaccine and how to get it.

Volunteering during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Overview

You can volunteer during coronavirus (COVID-19) with an organisation or group. You can also help people in your local area by doing things like picking up shopping or medicines.

You may be able to volunteer:

from home
from outside your home
in a workplace

This guidance is for volunteers in England. There’s different guidance on:

If you run an organisation or group, or manage volunteers, find out how to involve volunteers safely.

Where you can volunteer

You should volunteer from home where possible.

Follow guidance on volunteering with other people if you have to volunteer outside your home. Do not leave home if:

you’ve been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace
you’re self-isolating for any other reason

If you’re volunteering in a workplace, it should follow working safely during coronavirus guidance.

If you’re at high risk from coronavirus

You can volunteer outside your home, if you’re at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable), but you should take extra steps to protect yourself. For example, reduce:

your social interactions
the time you spend in places where you cannot social distance

If you have coronavirus symptoms

Do not volunteer outside your home if you have coronavirus symptoms or if you’ve tested positive for coronavirus.

You must self-isolate from the date you started having symptoms or from the day you tested positive and for the next 10 full days - whichever is the latest.

If you’re self-isolating your volunteer organisation should not ask you to leave home.

If you need to travel as a volunteer

Find out how to travel safely if you’re volunteering in England.

Check coronavirus guidance in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland before you travel, if you need to volunteer in one of these countries.

You can volunteer abroad if:

it’s not possible to volunteer in the UK
the country you’re going to is accepting volunteers - check foreign travel advice to find out where you can go

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Volunteering during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Overview

Where you can volunteer

If you’re at high risk from coronavirus

If you have coronavirus symptoms

If you need to travel as a volunteer

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Volunteering during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Overview

Where you can volunteer

If you’re at high risk from coronavirus

If you have coronavirus symptoms

If you need to travel as a volunteer

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