A charity playing a major role in the Covid-19 volunteer effort across Hull and the East Riding has issued a critical call for more support as restrictions tighten during the winter months.

HEY Smile Foundation is working with Hull City Council and NHS East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to coordinate volunteers at lateral flow testing sites, as well as Covid-19 vaccination booster locations.

Last year, the charity issued a rallying call for volunteers to support the vaccination rollout and more than 700 people came forward to offer their time for free and protect the community’s most vulnerable residents.  As the government relaxed restrictions earlier this year, many of the volunteers returned to their usual daily routines, including work and caring for loved ones, leaving fewer than 100 active volunteers available for the crucial winter months.

Volunteers will be provided with a full induction but do not need to undergo any formal training and will be asked to offer help and information at mobile lateral flow testing sites across Hull, as well as at a new winter health hub opening in Hull’s Princes Quay shopping centre on Monday, December 6^th.

They will meet and greet members of the public and hand out free lateral flow testing kits, as well as Covid-related advice and information, while trained members of staff help residents to carry out the tests if they wish.

In addition, volunteers are needed to signpost people arriving for their booster vaccinations at GP practices and pharmacies in towns across the East Riding after the government announced boosters will be open to all adults, not just those over the age of 40, with the gap between the second and third doses shortened from six months to three.

A second vaccination will be offered to children aged between 12 and 15 and the most vulnerable residents will potentially be offered a further booster, taking the number of vaccines they receive to four.

It comes following the risk posed by the Omicron variant and the need to increase the number of vaccinations to raise protection levels.

Jenny Preston, Programme Manager for Volunteering at HEY Smile Foundation, said: “When we issued our call for volunteers last year, the response was amazing and it became a movement.

“When we needed them most, they were there, standing outside in the wind, rain and snow to help the most vulnerable residents in our communities.

“Understandably, many have returned to their daily lives, but we now have a critical need for a second wave of volunteers to help see us through the challenging winter months.

“Covid-19 hasn’t gone away and we all want to be able to celebrate Christmas together safely. The way to do that is to have your booster vaccination and keep lateral flow testing, so we need our army of volunteers to come back out again to support our local GP practices and pharmacies as they deliver booster jabs.”

HEY Smile Foundation is currently supporting 10 sites across Hull and the East Riding, including the two lateral flow sites, and six volunteers per day, covering six days per week, are needed at Princes Quay.

Jenny said: “The beauty of volunteering is you can pick and choose which shifts you’d like to do. In the past, volunteers needed to complete a qualification to help with lateral flow tests, but these will now be done by paid and trained members of staff.

“Volunteers will hand out information, be that cheery face to meet and greet members of the public, signpost them in the right direction and help them feel at ease as they arrive and leave.”

Over the past 11 months, Smile volunteers have contributed over 24,000 hours in supporting Covid -19 vaccination hubs and assisting lateral flow testing sites.

Russell Wenn, Assistant Director of Planning and Performance Delivery at NHS East Riding of Yorkshire CCG, said: “We are so grateful for the tremendous response of volunteers throughout the East Riding over the past 12 months.  We really hope they will once again respond to our communities’ need as we enter the winter months, helping to support the fantastic efforts of our GP surgeries and pharmacies as we look to fulfil the booster vaccination programme.”

Tracy Harsley, Assistant Director at Hull City Council, said: “In the run up to Christmas, it is more important than ever that we continue to test for Covid.  By undertaking a lateral flow test, we are protecting ourselves and our families.  The volunteers will help us continue to provide key support in keeping our city safe and we are extremely grateful for their help.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer is asked to register their interest online via COVID-19 – HEY Smile Foundation.

They will then be invited to sign up for an induction, with the next online session scheduled for Tuesday, December 7^th.

For further information, email volunteering@heysmilefoundation.org