One of the feelings many of us have experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic is loneliness. Isolation and loneliness can affect anyone at any age but through our combined efforts to stay safe and save lives, this feeling has been exacerbated.
For Volunteers' Week 2021, we highlighted how volunteering has played an important role in helping to tackle isolation and loneliness during this difficult time.
We explored this issue in a free online workshop on Thursday 3 June.
We released videos throughout the week (1-7 June) which celebrate Nottingham's community response to the pandemic and show the positive impact that volunteering has on people's lives. Voluntary and community organisations, across the city, continue to work tirelessly to support our communities in response to the pandemic and volunteers continue to dedicate their time to help others.
Through this series of videos, we hope to highlight and raise the profile of the important work being done by Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector groups in Nottingham and say a big thank you to all those who give up their time to support those feeling isolated and alone.
A big thank you to volunteers in Nottingham
Councillor Neghat Khan, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, Safety and Inclusion at Nottingham City Council, shares a message of thanks for volunteers in Nottingham.
How SFiCE Foundation has responded to the pandemic
Parisa Eliyon, SFiCE Foundation's Projects Coordinator, chats with NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, about how the charity has adapted to meet the challenges of the pandemic and how they are continuing to support vulnerable people, particularly those who are feeling isolated and alone.
Sue's volunteering befriending story
In this video, Sue, a volunteer befriender for Improving Lives, shares her story of volunteering during the pandemic and how the charity has made a big difference to someone's life by helping him to feel less isolated and alone.