BU Research Blog

I have spent 14 days (8 full days of my annual leave) volunteering and helping to coordinate volunteer activities in the local COVID-19 support effort to assist people in my local Ward in Exeter.

Like other councils, ours also developed a response mobilising local communities to support those who were most affected by the lockdown and isolation. In Exeter Devon and Cornwall police were pro-active and identified members of local communities to create and drive community networks just before the lock down.

My volunteering started with my offer to pick up a prescription for a lady who has a terminal illness and in an at-risk group.  As part of my research activities, I had been working very closely with a City Council and various charities in Devon to assist in refugee resettlement. I was able to access my network immediately to provide for the emerging needs of COVID-19 in my community.  I have become part of the volunteering coordinating team of 6 people in my local ward and we have put together a very strategic but compassionate response locally and other wards in Exeter have started following our lead by using our combined expertise (and dedication).  There is yet much more work to do and we are determined to get our community through this in good health and spirit.  I wanted to report on some insights so far:

Our ward has over 100 volunteers and 5000 residents.  Our key coordinators started with setting up Whatsapp groups dedicated to each of the sub geographical areas and specialised needs of our community and we have call outs going out every day for volunteers.    Last week our most important topic of discussion was how we get support out to those who are most vulnerable in our community.  With everyone’s heads together we have managed to come up with a poster, flyer, social media and mail out campaign to local faith organisations as an immediate solution.  I have used my research findings from working with vulnerable groups has helped me to develop a website dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of volunteers as they go about supporting people.

This week our biggest topic of volunteer discussion has been about how we get free food to people who are most affected by the economic downturn created by COVID-19.  We sourcing all our contacts and  working with local food charities and networks in other wards to address this. We are also making sure that we are supporting local businesses in our activities – who have been amazing and offered us many services and products for free to help the effort even during a difficult time for them.  We had some lighter moments too which has helped real connection, like discussions about Matt our lead coordinator’s 7 day isolation where Karen had made sure he stayed in one room so her and the girls can still help in the effort. We are relieved that he is out of isolation today and the girls have 7 more days to go to stay in with government advise.

I have been heartened to see the the sheer effort that is going in in my community to help those who are lonely, hungry or unwell.  People are going a distance to put a poster up, to find ways to cook a meal for a neighbour, to make sure someone is well fed with the food they want to eat, that people are well and in good spirits.  I have seen a tremendous amount of compassion and regard for each other and I really hope that this continues well after the lockdown.

For now we have a lot of work to do to get our communities through this very difficult time.

Dr Varuni Wimalasiri

Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour

Faculty of Management

COVID volunteer web page_vwimalasiri