Hertfordshire hopes to build volunteering legacy in wake of Covid-19

More than 10,000 people have volunteered to support #TeamHerts, Watford3RT or Communities First, as part of Operation Sustain.

And more than 4000 of those volunteers have already been called on to support those who are ill or isolating, by collecting shopping or other tasks.

At a meeting of the county council’s special cabinet panel on Wednesday (June 3) councillors were updated on Operation Sustain as part of a wider report on the council’s response to Covid-19.

And as part of that report it emerged that the county council is looking at ways to build on the volunteering in future.

According to the report a ‘recovery and rebuild’ volunteer legacy plan is being developed by Team Herts Volunteering and the county’s Community Voluntary Services.

That, says the report, will aim to build on the community ‘resilience’ shown during the last few months.

And it will aim to keep everyone who has been inspired by volunteering ‘on board’.

Speaking in advance of the meeting Cllr Tery Douris, executive member for education, libraries and localism, said he had been “amazed” that so many people had volunteered in just a few weeks.

And he said he thought there would be an opportunity at some stage in the future to maintain the volunteering ethos.

He highlighted the value of volunteering to those who volunteer and to the communities they support.

And he said that volunteering can be an opportunity for some to get out of their homes, meet new people or to develop a project to work on – while their contribution could make a big difference their community.

“We hear about the ‘new normal’ – and hopefully there will be a element of people looking out for each other in the nicest possible way,” he said.

At the meeting it was also reported that almost 67,000 deliveries of food parcels household essentials and prescribed medications have been delivered to support those residents most in need, as part of Operation Shield.

According to the latest figures there are currently 40,300 people classed as ‘extremely vulnerable’ in the county – and therefore supported by Operation Shield.

It is also reported that 250 residents have since advised that they no longer need support with food box deliveries.