Coronavirus: ways you can help your community

Offer support

If you'd like to support people in your community, here's how you can offer support. Or if you need support we can connect you to groups who can help.

Other ways you can help people locally

You can:

• share local authority schemes

• find support groups in your area – we've been given these details by people in communities

• direct people to mutual aid groups set up to help people in local communities who are considered high risk

Volunteer with recognised organisations

Sign up to volunteer at:

• NHS GoodSAM

• local volunteer centres

• Volunteering Wales

• Volunteer Scotland

• Volunteer Now (Northern Ireland

• Volunteering Matters

• Do-it

• Reach Volunteering

• Age UK

• British Red Cross

Support people to get fairer access to food

You can:

• connect with a local group in your community who's tackling food poverty and needs volunteers or food donations

• apply to be a Food Share partner with Co-op if you're a local group

• donate or exchange surplus food with a local community Hubbub fridge

• contact your local Member Pioneer Co-ordinator to find a Food Share partner

• find out what your council is doing to fight food poverty at a local level through Co-op Party’s Food Justice Finder

• donate to food banks – visit the Trussell Trust website and find a food bank in your area

Help people with money worries

You can:

• share this advice on claiming benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions

• direct people to the following job sites if they're out of work: Co-op, Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Morrisons, Lidl, Cera Care, Home Instead, HC-One

Help people with legal worries

You can:

• guide them to Citizens Advice for free, independent and confidential advice on any legal issues they're facing during the Covid-19 pandemic

• listen in to a free talk to understand how to help vulnerable family members with a Lasting Power of Attorney

• share online information from credible legal specialists about difficulties during the pandemic such as furlough leave and cohabiting issues

   

Share accurate advice

For advice on what to do if you, or someone you know, has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), visit the NHS website or GOV.UK.

You can also signpost people to: 

• the mental health charity, Mind

• Mind's advice on supporting children and young people

• the latest travel advice at GOV.UK