Framework/Template for Local Mutual Aid Group in Response to Covid-19 Emergency

1. Create a Facebook Group

You can do this by logging in to your Facebook account and choosing CREATE > GROUP.

Include Covid-19 and your local area in the title, e.g. Covid-19 Cilfrew and Aberdulais. Make it easy to find but not hard to remember.

For consistency with the other Groups you can use the image below as your Facebook Cover Image. Please RIGHT click on the image below to save it.

2. Register your group with the Covid-19 Mutual Aid group (National Volunteer Group)

https://covidmutualaid.org/contact/

3. Create a Google account

This step will also setup a Gmail address that you can use for people to contact you. An account can be set up at the address below (opens in a new tab).

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441?hl=en

4. Create a data capture form through Google Forms

Create a form here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/

Here is an example of a finished form:
https://forms.gle/EQPGWeXkArRYny5N6

Remember to include a privacy policy like the example below. Signpost every single person who wishes to volunteer to this form, like sharing the link to it on Facebook.

If the form is filled in by someone else on behalf of the other person, remind them that will need written permissions to share any data (text message, email etc).

 

When you’ve completed the form, you can find the link to share the form as shown below:

 

You can access your form to see who has completed it by going to Google Forms (https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/) then clicking on your form like shown below.

Then, go to the RESPONSES tab, and click the little Green Box/White Cross icon as this will allow you to export the data to an Excel Spreadsheet.

5. Speak to your Local Councillor, Local Coordinator and get them on board from the very beginning wherever possible.

 

6. Recruit a small, trustworthy team of volunteers to help you look after your Facebook group and manage the data collection. Identify a team leader/point of contact as soon as possible; they will be essential in liaising with all the relevant authorities/coordinators.

 

7. Ask your local Councillor for a list of all the streets in their ward, one village may have several different wards but this information can be easily discovered by some research on your local council website.

 

8. Manually create a database (a simple Excel Spreadsheet will be ok) with all of the street names in the locality you are covering within your Facebook groups demographic.

 

9. Assign each street with a volunteer (bigger streets will need more than one, back up volunteers also need to be considered in case of illness.

 

10. Create a list of all the local shops and food service outlets in your area, contact them to see what plans they have for deliveries if a lockdown is imposed.

 

11. Source local pharmacies that deliver however please do not assume they will automatically deliver prescriptions, their own advice and guidelines are changing daily as the current situation develops.

 

12. Contact local Foodbanks/Salvation Army and ask them to consider merging into 1 unit for the duration of the crisis to minimise contact, maximise support and share resources.

 

13. Create a list of National Helplines (telephone based, online, podcasts etc) to combat loneliness etc whilst people are in isolation.

 

14. Keep your Facebook group as a source of information and as the central point to gather volunteer’s data. Encourage positive posts only.

 

15. Request for other help through platforms such as facebook watch parties from trusted sources such as gym instructors, meditation/yoga teachers. Build community spirit wherever possible.

 

16. Follow ALL guideline, policies and procedures to the best of your ability as outlined by Local Authority, Local Government, Public Health etc. These are changing by the hour so stay informed.

 

17. Don’t try to do too much, stay safe and always think about how to minimise infection with every action you take.