Healthwatch Staffordshire are volunteering their time during the Coronavirus pandemic

The team at Healthwatch Staffordshire are supporting their local communities during the Coronavirus pandemic by volunteering their time to support those at risk of isolation or if people just want to have a chat during these difficult times. Team members are registered with Support Staffordshire Covid-19 Support to ensure that we are available at the right time to meet need.

Carol, our Engagement and Information Lead, is providing support to two people who are in the shielding group, one being a relative living several miles away and one being a lady in the next village. This includes shopping, collecting medications if necessary and keeping in touch by phone, carefully following social distancing guidelines. Carol has also learned from our volunteers of the support that local communities are providing, whether it be a WhatsApp group on an individual road, to a village network, to a parish support group or a larger organisation.

Cat, our Community Outreach Lead, volunteers for Girl Guiding. She is a Rainbows Leader and an assistant leader at Brownies. Since lockdown Brownies has moved to a virtual setting. Cat, whose daughter is one of the Brownies who takes part, said, “It’s made a massive difference to the girls and the leaders. Some of the girls, like mine, do not have any siblings, so being able to see their friends online once a week makes a huge difference to their mental health. It also helps them have a reference point in the week as to what day it is.”

To read more about our volunteering activities visit healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk/news/staff-volunteer-during-covid-19/

Healthwatch Staffordshire continues to be committed to championing the public voice in health and care services. As a team we are still collecting your health and care experiences and sharing these with relevant organisations so that they can use this information to improve services now and beyond the pandemic.

Email us: enquiries@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk

Telephone: 0800 051 8371