During this period of isolation and social distancing, it can be easy to feel helpless and a bit deflated. However, there are loads of simple ways you can help out by donating your downtime, doing your bit and pitching in to try and overcome this pandemic as quickly as possible.
Supporting Your Community
Lots of communities have set up WhatsApp chats and Facebook groups in order to provide support for vulnerable people in their area. Visit this website to find your local support group, and join the COVID-19 Mutual Aid Facebook group here to keep up to date with the latest information. The Red Cross also have a non-specialist community volunteer scheme.
If you're a tech wizz, COVID-19 Mutual Aid are looking for Tech Digital Problem Solvers, to help with the building and running of the digital groups. You can volunteer your tech skills here.
If you have vulnerable neighbours or know of vulnerable members of the community who may need support, you can download these Viral Kindness cards. Post them through doors of vulnerable people and you could be saving a life.
The government have recently called for NHS Volunteers - your NHS needs you!
Food banks
If you have spare food you could donate, you can take it to a food bank and help feed a vulnerable person who can't leave their home. Pop your postcode into this website to find out what your local food bank may need.
Online volunteering
All you need is some spare time and an Internet connection. Individuals who are struggling with the recent uncertainty may really benefit from having someone to talk to. You could volunteer for helplines such as FamilyLine, The Samaritans or Mind. You can also join the Slack workspace Code4COVID to see how you can help out.
Even just sending an email or a letter to a vulnerable person or even care home facilities could put a smile on someone's face and raise their spirits. A small gesture, but a powerful one.
Financial support
Charities, local community facilities and homeless schemes such as the Big Issue will now all be struggling from lack of donations. You can donate to any specific charities you think may help, buy a digital copy/subscription of the Big Issue or donate to the London Homeless Welfare Team, who do an amazing job distributing care packages to people sleeping rough.
You could also donate to a specific crowdfunding page or the Neighbourly Community Fund, which provides grants for good causes aiming to help worst-hit communities.
Support local restaurants by buying meals for NHS staff, who are working tirelessly on the front line of this pandemic. You can read more about that here.
Hire Space are assisting the NHS by appealing to venues for spare rooms or facilities they may have available. So far, we have: 15,000,000 sqft of space, from over 1000 venues, 10,000 casual workers, 2,000 childcare professionals for key workers and 1,000 beds, chairs, tables, beds and catering equipment. If you'd like to support in any way, get in touch.
Every little helps, and to get through this as quickly as possible we all have to do our bit. By volunteering your time and skills you could be helping to save lives!
Get in touch at contact@hirespace.com if you have any questions or suggestions on how we can support our communities during this pandemic.
We've also created a platform to keep you up-to-date with all the latest Coronavirus news, as well as the latest useful industry responses to the ongoing pandemic.
Author
Izzie Lachecki
Izzie brings a deep understanding of the events world to Hire Space, and keeps busy by writing lots of Hire Space and EventLAB content and managing the Hire Space social media presence.
