More skilled volunteers needed across the region to keep up with services after pandemic

The pandemic has brought the region together and had people volunteer in their communities at levels never seen before, however, as lockdown rules relax in many parts of Yorkshire and workers come out of furlough, members of the public are urged to continue to volunteer to keep communities safe and happy.

At the start of the pandemic 40,000 people in Yorkshire became volunteer NHS responders and tens of thousands more helped in their communities, whether formally or informally.

However, many charities and community groups were not able to benefit from this influx of volunteers and now could struggle.

Lizzie Clapham, volunteer development officer at Community First Yorkshire said those charities who have not actively been able to recruit new volunteers because they have been forced to furlough staff themselves, particularly at the start of the pandemic, have found that potential volunteers have moved on.

She said: “We will come to a crisis where those organisations will be needing to find other ways to attract and recruit new volunteers.

“There hasn't been the opportunity for those organisations to take advantage of these people coming forward.”

Long-term volunteers who are prepared to take on training and become more embedded in organisations are needed as communities start to recover, particularly in more challenging areas like dealing with children or counselling.

Ms Clapham said: “It's those volunteer roles where somebody needs to have done quite an involved induction process or training process.”

She said many charities are looking at how they can continue to provide the extra services they have been providing during lockdown, which have proved essential in some communities, and also how to break down volunteering roles to make them more flexible for people who were furloughed but are now going back to work.

“We can see obviously that the number of people who are becoming unemployed are beginning to increase and I think that volunteering is a fantastic stepping stone potentially for people into employment. There’s a real place for volunteering in that context as well.”

Ms Clapham, who has volunteered herself for more than 30 years, remained optimistic, adding: “I’ve never been as excited at the potential of what could be achieved as now.”

North Yorkshire in particular had a strong turnout of volunteers, with 1,576 active council volunteers in one week during the height of the pandemic, and currently has more than needed.

This tends to happen in areas with older and more rural populations.

Councillor Carl Les, North Yorkshire County Council’s leader said the county was notable for its “resilient, generous communities”.

He said: “Across our county there are countless examples of groups of people of all kinds who have pulled together to help those isolated by the Covid-19 outbreak – shopping for food and delivering it, collecting medicines, dropping off treats, picking up the phone to the lonely. “

“We thank every single North Yorkshire resident who has checked on a neighbour and the volunteers helping people during this crisis and who continue to help out. The kindness we’ve seen has been truly humbling. Team North Yorkshire at its best.”

He said volunteers and council staff had worked hard to deliver essential services.

“And we have supported the great work of community groups on the ground who know their people and their places.”

He said though the region may be beginning to recover from the pandemic, services cannot stop.

He said: “This work goes on as we continue to work through our services and our volunteers to support people who are in need.”