Local Group Resources

The most up to date information is currently on the map.

Groups are being added all the time and you can register new groups here.

If you’re the admin of a local group, please get one of your group members to join this group so we can share learning, resources and support. 

In addition to local mutual aid groups that are forming, there will be existing community projects and support services in your area that will be working hard in response to the crisis and who may next extra support and resource at this time.

If you like what we’re doing and can’t find a local group in your area, we recommend setting one up. This doesn’t have to be done for your whole district, in fact the smaller the area the better. A whole street supporting each other could be even more effective than a district wide group. 

This isn’t about “saving” anyone, it’s common sense human values of neighbours and community members looking out for each. We want to both help contain the spread of the virus and support those most at risk.

You can set your group up in whatever way works for you, but we recommend setting up a communication platform like a WhatsApp group or Facebook group so that you can communicate with volunteers.

Before setting up the local group remember that there will be existing community projects and support services in your area that will be working hard in response to the crisis. If you have a big volunteer basis in your group, we recommend reaching out and listening to the needs and wisdom of these projects and services rather than trying to start from scratch.

If you’re the admin of a local group, please get one of your group members to join this group so we can share learning, resources and support. 

Bear in mind that whilst Facebook or WhatsApp are good organising platforms, they might not be the easiest way for vulnerable people in your area to find and contact your group. Those most at risk might not have access to smart phones or feel comfortable having social media accounts.  Make sure you consider an additional way for those in need of support to contact you, whether that’s an email address or a phone number. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your own details, some groups are setting up their own email addresses or phone numbers which can be monitored on a rota.

More advice for local groups can be found on the FAQ page.

If you need any help with technology while setting up and managing your group, you can get free support at Covid Tech Support.

We recommend keeping the management of requests as simple as possible. Ideally having a direct number or email that people can get in touch with rather than setting up web forms etc.

It’s really important that requests are kept safe and confidential, both for legal reasons around data management and also to safeguard the most vulnerable. People who are suffering domestic abuse, those with vulnerable migrant status or in other precarious situations might feel unable to reach out if you’re capturing data in a non secure way. Where possible, avoid unnecessary spreadsheets/storing of data and do support on a direct and 121 basis.

If you do make forms and spreadsheets, make sure that they’re protected by a password and that only a small number of trusted people in your group have access to them. 

Some more advice on data storage can be found here.

A great way to get in touch with the at risk people in your area is with handwritten notes or leaflets letting them know about the support you’re offering.

When creating a leaflet, remember the main aim is to communicate with vulnerable people and that includes people who are visually impaired. Make sure your leaflet is formatted in a way that is legible. Guidance on accessible formatting is here .

If you’re creating a leaflet for your local area you should include:

• An explanation of what your group is and what you offer. Which area are you? What support are you offering?
• A method of contact. This could be a Facebook group to join, a Whatsapp group or a number to call. Be aware that some people won’t feel comfortable with WhatsApp or Facebook and so having a number for people to call or an email address might be most effective.
• A message of hope and support! For many people the worst part of the pandemic at the moment is a sense of being overwhelmed and isolated. A friendly message through the letterbox could make all the difference. 

You should not include:

• Medical advice! Please do not share specific medical advice on your leaflets and leave that to the professionals!
• Misinformation. Lots of rumours and misinformation is floating around social media. Keep your leaflets as a basis to share offers and support and messages of hope.

Template leaflets can be found here and  here.

To help prevent the spread of corona virus, we’re encouraging as much coordination to be done online as possible.

Many groups are doing this through WhatsApp chats, Facebook messages and phone conversations, but if you need to have a meeting we recommend using an online platform like Zoom which people can join from their computer or smart phone.

For details of how to set up zoom calls, go here.

For details of how to invite people to your call go here.

Top tips for having an online meeting are:

• If you’re hosting the meeting, log in little earlier to make sure the tech is working.
• Have one person running the meeting and another person monitoring the chat box.
• Anyone who isn’t speaking should try to mute their microphone.
• Get someone to take notes so that if audio quality dips at any point, people can catch up.
• If your meeting is with more than a couple of people, we recommend using written signals in the chat box to let people know you want to speak. Ask people to put a * symbol or similar in the chat box so you know which order to take questions and contributions.

We’re aware that not everyone has access to online video conferencing and encourage groups to set up a process for people who want to volunteer being able to contact the main group/receive information from your meetings to make sure your organising doesn’t exclude anyone.

SAFEGUARDING: All local groups should read through this guide to safeguarding for mutual aid groups produced from by the National Food Service. 

DATA PROTECTION: Do NOT pass on personal data from volunteers & those requesting help to anyone, especially other organisations or institutions. This includes making sure you do not pass on information to your local council or government body. Your council can support your group without needing to know specifics of who you are supporting directly. 

A basic guide to data protection for mutual aid groups – once again produced by the National Food Service – is available here. 

GIVING SUPPORT: All local mutual aid groups need to PRIORITISE SAFETY. Community care is about preventing the spread of Covid-19 and providing support for the most vulnerable. All groups should follow Queercare’s guidelines on how to support others without spreading the infection.

LEAFLETING: 

Printing

• Wash your hands thoroughly before taking leaflets out of the printer and put the leaflets directly into a ziploc bag (a small pile up to about 40).
• Don’t stockpile excess leaflets.

Distributing Leaflets 

It is important to follow safety guidelines when distributing leaflets to ensure that as far as possible we are not exposing people to the virus and putting anyone at more harm. Here are some guidelines that everyone distributing leaflets should follow. You should not do this if you are ill at all.

• Do not leaflet if you are unwell at all, even if you’re only experiencing mild symptoms.
• Leaflets should be stored in smaller piles within ziploc bags
• Listen to social distancing guidelines and don’t leaflet in large groups. When leafleting in small groups, avoid physical contacts or exchanging resources.
• Make sure to wash your hands well before starting leafleting and use hand sanitiser if you are able to at regular intervals.
• Only one person should handle leaflets from each zip-locked pack, putting them directly from the bag through the door for each house and minimising contact as far as possible
• Make sure to wash your hands after you are finished too

Distributing Posters

Posters can be put up around the local area to spread awareness. Some ideas of places to put them are:

• Shop and cafe windows and noticeboards (ask for permission!)
• Community noticeboards (try religious centres, libraries, community centres, blocks of flats)

In addition to the template leaflets that can be found here and  here, local groups have produced other documents that may be useful, including:

1. GDPR Compliant Volunteer sign-up form (made by the Sydenham group in Lewisham) – To create your own version go to the Google Forms page and insert the questions into a new, blank form.

2.  A selection of important data protection documents produced by Uckfield Corona Virus support group (including privacy notice, data protection policy and data register).