MORE than 1,000 Dorset residents have signed up to volunteer in the community response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Dorset Council has confirmed that at 1,005 volunteers have registered their availability with Volunteer Centre Dorset (VCD) and also 105 organisations have registered specifically for the community response for COVID-19. The VCD team is busy matching volunteers to vacancies and working with the pharmacies to deliver prescriptions.

Public Health Dorset has been working with Volunteer Centre Dorset and community pharmacies (through Dorset’s Local Pharmacy Committee) to put in place a system of matching willing volunteers with community pharmacies who have a need to deliver medications to people who are self-isolating. The system went live across Dorset and BCP council areas on 25 March and volunteers have already started to be placed with local pharmacies. If there is a need for pharmacies to adjust the number of volunteers they have in their team, then they are able to request further volunteers over time. There is an expected initial flurry of activity over the coming days as pharmacies make their requests and volunteers are matched.

Further to this, Dorset Council are issuing good-practice guidance, both for the volunteers who are delivering medication, and for the pharmacies working with those volunteers.

Services funded by Dorset Council that support people with issues with alcohol or other drugs have been trying to alter prescriptions and get people their medication directly so that they can practise social distancing and not have to go to the pharmacy so often, when these services are already under huge pressure. Dorset Council staff and vehicles have been redeployed to support this effort, meaning that nurses and other treatment staff can concentrate on directly supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community. One nurse described the drivers as a ‘Godsend’, saying the service ‘couldn’t do this without them’.

People can volunteer to help in their local communities here.

71 grant funds have been made available to support local community groups and the Dorset Community Foundation has launched their own Community Fund for those who would like to make a donation or want to apply for funding. Dorset Community Foundation will also be administering the National Emergencies Trust – Coronavirus – Funding for Dorset. They will be working with officers at Dorset Council to ensure the funding is shared fairly across the Dorset Council area. More information on this will be shared once funding becomes available.

Cllr Laura Miller, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and Health said: “ The response within the community has been outstanding. I would like to encourage those who are well and willing, to register with Volunteer Centre Dorset to further support the efforts in their local community.

“There are a number of resources available on our Community Response webpage which includes information on safeguarding, how to access support for yourself or for loved ones, contact information for queries on foodbanks as well as information on access to funding available for community groups.”

VULNERABLE people in Dorset will have recently received a letter from the NHS, telling them they are at high risk of catching coronavirus and advising them to stay at home and strictly self-isolate for 12 weeks.

Dorset Council is putting plans in place with its partners from across public, voluntary and community and charity sectors to give these people the help they need.

A Dorset COVID-19 Response Hub has been set to help people get enough food and necessities, receive support and know how how to access help.

The COVID–19 Response Hub can be contacted on 01305 221022, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. Alternatively, you can email communityresponse@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

Dorset Council portfolio holder for Health and Adult Social Care, Cllr Laura Miller said: “We are doing our very best to make sure that those people who are identified as extremely vulnerable because of the coronavirus will be fully supported.

“If you, or someone you know, is vulnerable because they are self-isolating and cannot get access to food or medicine, they have care needs or are at risk of loneliness and isolation call the helpline and trained staff can help you get the things you need.”

If you do not receive a letter from the NHS but still need help and support to get essential supplies, you can find more information on volunteer organisations on our website www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/coronavirus or by contacting Age UK on enquiries@ageuknswd.org.uk or 01305 269444. You can also register to volunteer on the website.