How you can help

We want to help residents stay up to date with the latest advice about COVID-19.

To do this, we are looking for COVID-19 Community Champions to be the first to receive the latest updates and guidance from our Public Health team about how to stay safe during this coronavirus pandemic and share with our families, friends, communities and workplaces.

Find out more about COVID-19 Community Champions

There are many ways you can support our much-loved businesses – some of which won’t you cost a penny. So, why not:

• Order a takeaway - There’s a whole host of local restaurants, bars and cafes now offering delivery services across Southampton
• Shop local online - Whilst many of your favourite brands and shops are closed, you can still buy some products online for home delivery
• Leave a review – A free way to support your favourite businesses
• Buy a gift card – If you have an upcoming present to buy or simply want to treat yourself then why not buy a gift card/voucher either to spend online or to save for a future date?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE

Southampton City Council currently has sufficient stocks to supply our staff with PPE in the immediate future. We are continuing to work closely with Care Providers in the city to support them if they are unable to source PPE and in critical need.

However, with many businesses now closed, you might be able to help us to help our city by donating any of the following industry standard PPE that you may have and currently don’t require:

• Fluid-resistant surgical face masks and FFP3 face masks
• Alcohol hand sanitiser
• Safety Spectacles
• Disposable aprons
• Latex and nitrile gloves - all sizes

If you have any of these items, and are able to donate them, please contact the team at covidPPE@southampton.gov.uk / 023 8083 2983.

If you’re helping a friend, family member or neighbour while they’re staying at home because of coronavirus, remember to keep yourself and others safe while you do so. Here’s some guidance on how to help safely and in a meaningful way.

Southampton Voluntary Services have released a training video about supporting the bereaved. You may find this useful if you are supporting the bereaved in a frontline staff or volunteer role, in addition to the support and training from your organisation.

How to volunteer

Many groups and charities need support to help their work and there are lots of ways you can get involved, whilst keeping social distance. If you’re interested in offering your time and skills, SO:Linked has a number of community groups and organisations looking for volunteers listed on its website.

Love Southampton also helps to match volunteers with the most suitable volunteering opportunities in the city.

We urge all volunteers to adhere to the Government’s guidance on how to volunteer safely. For advice and tips, take a look at these videos created by Southampton Voluntary Service.

To increase our community support we are offering the opportunity for people new to the care industry to play a key role. The role will be varied and could involve tasks such as preparing meals, ensuring medication is provided accurately and on time, through to personal care. If you are interested in supporting people with care needs in the city, this is a good opportunity to provide support, be trained to a high standard, and learn the role of a Care Assistant. It could also be a gateway to caring roles in the future. Apply online

It’s important to keep our local food banks stocked up. Please continue to pick up extra items in your supermarket shops, if you are able to, to support Southampton City Mission Basic Food Banks. The ‘Foodbank App’ is also available to download for free from the Apple App Store or for Android on Google Play where you can:

• Keep up to date with items they need via it’s red, amber and green traffic light system
• See the latest news updates
• Find venue locations & maps
• And donate via its online giving portal