While the last few weeks have been very unsettling and have impacted on how we all go about our daily lives, there have been lots of positive news stories of renewed community spirit and volunteers supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. Whether it was that news coverage which may have inspired you to help, or whether you are just looking at some positive actions you can take to enrich your CV during our enforced stays at home, we have put together some handy tips for volunteering in times of Covid-19:

Opportunities directly related to Covid-19:
You have probably already seen the online and media appeals for NHS volunteer responders across four key roles:

• Community response: collecting and delivering shopping and medication for someone who is self-isolating
• Patient transport: providing transport for patients who are medically fit for discharge
• Transport: driving equipment, supplies and medication between NHS services and sites
• Check-in and chat: providing short-term telephone support to individuals in self-isolation.

Many local councils have also launched their own dedicated volunteering schemes to provide community support and help the most vulnerable in their neighbourhoods. This can include delivering food parcels to individuals who are self-isolating, or volunteering for local foodbanks and other charities who have lost many of their (often older) volunteers to self-isolation. Check your local authority’s website, e.g.

• Liverpool Council
• Sefton Council
• Manchester Council

(Please note, some local authorities have already been overwhelmed with offers of help and have paused their volunteer recruitment temporarily, so check for updates over the coming weeks.)

There are also many community groups who are organising and co-ordinating help on a smaller scale, and you can research and find local groups via Covid Mutual Aid, NextDoor, or Facebook.

You can also volunteer with relevant charities’ befriending services, such as Age UK, who help combat loneliness in older people, which is particularly relevant at the current time when they are unable to socialise outside their own home.

When helping others during these challenging times, make sure to stay safe yourself. Many of the opportunities described can either be carried out from home or in a socially-distanced manner. Ensure that you stay at least two metres away from people and maintain good hygiene by regularly washing your hands for 20 seconds at a time and using alcohol hand gels. Also be mindful of any personal information you share at this time: for example, when providing your address, phone number or email to a local community group, avoid doing so via a Facebook group or similar public platforms, and always ask the organisers who your private information will be shared with.

Other opportunities:

Due to current government advice to adhere to social distancing, school closures and the need to protect the most vulnerable in society, volunteering opportunities in schools, care homes, the community and the outdoors are severely restricted. However, there are still plenty of options to volunteer from home, which would suit both individuals who are self-isolating and those looking for flexible volunteering.

A quick search of ‘Do-it from home’ opportunities brings up results as varied as radio hosts, review and feature writers for the Telly Binge website, social media assistants, counsellors for FamilyLine, contact volunteers, and bunny knitters, so there really IS something for everyone! Some of the roles could be an opportunity to apply knowledge or skills gained from your course, while others might just provide a welcome distraction and boost to your wellbeing during these challenging times.

Many charities are concerned about the loss of income from the temporary closure of charity shops and cancellation of fundraising events and will have to consider more home-based alternatives to generate income. If you are passionate about a particular cause or charity, follow them on social media to find out about any volunteering opportunities from home that may become available as a result of the current situation.

Benefits of volunteering:

If you’re not convinced yet, consider the many benefits of volunteering for yourself and your community:

• It can supercharge your CV by giving you relevant experience and providing great evidence for key employability skills, such as communication, teamwork, organisation, problem-solving, and resilience. These skills are easily transferable, so you don’t even need to volunteer in a role or sector directly related to your future career plans.
• Research has shown that volunteering can benefit your mental health and wellbeing, while also increasing your confidence and self-esteem.
• It is a great way to expand your network of contacts, which in turn can boost your job-hunting in the future.
• You could be providing much needed support in your community at a time when many local services and NHS trusts are severely stretched.

Look out for other updates and advice from the Careers Team over the next few weeks, and head over to our website for further information and guides on a range of careers and employability topics. You can also email us at careers@ljmu.ac.uk for any further questions and to request a remote appointment with an adviser.