Severe Weather

Severe Weather Briefing - Volunteering

The Government recognise the tremendous efforts of local people who are pulling together to help deal with the challenges of the severe weather.

We have seen many excellent examples of the way Britain's communities have pulled together, with people lending vehicles, digging clear paths to allow ambulances and police vehicles through and visiting neighbours in need

Volunteering your time can make a big difference to those who are struggling during this severe weather.

Volunteering by its very nature is spontaneous and generous and people don't need to be told what to do. However, we are working with councils and charities to find the best ways to ensure people have all the information they need to get involved.

We shouldn't let myths about litigation get in the way of people's civic minded actions. People should use their common sense and not be put off helping others.

People interested in finding out what they can do support their communities should contact their local volunteer centre. Details for their nearest office can be found on www.volunteering.org.uk/finder

 
Q&A

Q1.  How can people get involved?

A1.  It can be as simple as asking about your neighbour how they are and if you can help.

People can also contact their local Volunteer Centre. The location and contact details for the nearest office can be found on www.volunteering.org.uk/finder.  Or call Volunteering England on 0845 305 6979

Q2. What sorts of things can I do?

A 2. Volunteering England suggest five ways to lend a hand:

• Break the ice - call round to check on elderly friends and neighbours. You do not need a CRB check.
• Help clear pavements to prevent slips and falls - don't believe the myths about being sued          
• Think of an organisation that has helped you, and help them! Call your children's school, your health centre or a charity and see if they need a hand
• Stuck at home? Ask your boss if you can use the day to volunteer locally
• Plumber? Tree surgeon? First-aider? Your skills are really valuable - why not offer to help

Be alert - help keep people off frozen streams and ponds

Q. 3 What else can I do?

A.3 You could offer to volunteer for a local charity such as the Red Cross, Age Concern / Help the aged etc. Look at their website for details of how to do this.

People can also contact their local Volunteer Centre for advice on where they can help. www.volunteering.org.uk/finder Or call Volunteering England on 0845 305 6979

Q4. Haven't the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) told businesses not to clear paths?

A.4 No. This is not the IOSH position and they have publicly urged businesses and communities to do the right thing by clearing snow and ice from public areas.  The press reports were mistaken.

Q.5 How can you say I won't be sued?

A5 It is for the courts to decide liability but we think that provided the householder takes reasonable precautions in clearing their drive / pathways it is highly unlikely that any claim would be successful.

Q 6 What are 'reasonable precautions'?

A6 When clearing snow people should think about their safety and that of other people.

• Do not use hot water; this can create additional hazardous ice;
• Use a shovel with the widest blade available;
• Spread some ordinary table salt on the area you have cleared to prevent any ice forming.

Q7. Do I need a Criminal Record Bureau check to call on elderly neighbours?

A. 7 No

Q. 8 I haven't got any special training - can I still help out?

A 8 Yes, there are plenty of ways to help out that don't require special skills.

Q9.  Is this evidence that state support for vulnerable people is falling apart?

A9.  No.  Government continues to support vulnerable people - e.g. the Government has so far paid out £244million in Cold Weather Payments to four million recipients.

Local government is also continuing to provide support - e.g. by providing emergency hotlines for those experiencing difficulties.

This is about encouraging people to think about how they can provide extra help in their street or neighbourhood.

Q10.  Are you encouraging people to put themselves or others at risk?

A10.  No. We do not want anyone to put themselves at risk.  This is about small, neighbourly actions, such as helping with shopping, that can make a tremendous difference at this time.

Q11. Won't this cause problems with complete strangers beating on older peoples' doors?

A11.  No.  We trust people to act sensibly and sensitively with their neighbours.

Examples of community action reported in recent days:

• Volunteers in Bristol have used their 4X4 vehicles to support the NHS by transporting essential NHS workers to hospital emergency departments, community nurses/midwives to home visits and GPs for their out of hours service.
• Around 60 parents, teachers, and pupils turned up with their shovels and brooms to clear the snow away from their school in Hemel Hempstead to ensure it was safe for pupils to return on Monday.
• Parents at a primary school in Trowbridge pitched up to help clear the paths to the school with just 40 minutes notice at the weekend - using an old desk and a placard as snowploughs.
• Brighton and Hove City Council received a "tremendous response" to their appeal for owners of 4x4 vehicles to help transport food and medicine to vulnerable people in Brighton while the icy conditions continue.
• Residents worked together to dig an ambulance out of the snow. Paramedics were called out to Woodlands Close, Breightmet, - but their ambulance became stranded in the ice and snow and they needed the help of the whole street.
• The Bucks Oxon Rescue Group - a team of about 50 - and Bucks Search and Rescue volunteers have helped "save lives" by transporting sick and elderly residents during the severe weather.
• When an ambulance could not reach an 84-year-old woman at her Blagdon home after she had suffered an angina attack, it was Ambulance volunteer Duncan Massey who came to the rescue.
• Members of the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and the North of Tyne Search and Rescue Team are using their vehicles and crews to get to patients and to recover stranded ambulances as the area is blanketed by deep snow. Volunteers from the teams have been working up to 14 hours a day.