Volunteer Responder Service - Do you need some help at this time?

Last updated: 18/03/2024

Volunteer Responders is a national, flexible volunteering programme supporting health and care in England.  

The scheme is built on a digital platform and links volunteers to local live tasks via a smart phone app. This allows volunteers to offer help residents at a time which suits them.

Volunteers phone patients to provide social contact. Where appropriate, they can encourage patients to make positive changes such as connecting with others, becoming more physically active and learning new skills. Volunteers can also signpost to other services in the community.

Health and care teams can refer people for Check In and Chat and Check In and Chat Plus volunteer support. Members of the public can also request friendly phone calls from volunteers, either for themselves or someone they know (with that person’s permission).  

Volunteer Responders provides trained and ID-checked volunteers to support health and care in England complementing existing provision.

As a referrer you can arrange for volunteer support with tasks such as short term telephone support to patients that need a friendly call and some encouragement to improve their mental health and well-being, regular telephone support to more vulnerable patients, the transport of equipment and stewarding people at vaccination sites.

Make a request online via the referrer portal

The service was set up by NHS England, working with the Royal Voluntary Service and the GoodSAM Instant Help App.

Information obtained from Volunteer Responder Service website.

Who to contact

Telephone
0808 196 3382 for referrers
0808 196 3646 for patients/residents and their carers to request service
Website
NHS Volunteer Responders website

Other Details

Availability

Age Ranges
Referral required
Yes
Referral Details

Who can refer

Professional referrers include:

  • Approved charity partner
  • Approved VCSE organisations
  • Community pharmacy
  • General Practice (GP)
  • Healthwatch
  • Hospital
  • Local Authority
  • Member of Parliament (MP)
  • NHS111/Ambulance Trust
  • Police or Fire Service
  • Resilience Forum Member
  • Social care provider
  • Social housing provider
  • Social prescribing/link worker scheme.

NHS and Care Volunteer Responders | Supporting Health & Social Care (nhscarevolunteerresponders.org)

Request Support Services | NHS and Care Volunteer Responders (nhscarevolunteerresponders.org)

Patients and Carers can refer themsleves to request the service - 0808 196 3646

West Berkshire Council do not promote or endorse any of the services listed in this Directory. For more information on this please read our disclaimer.

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