A retired marketing and advertising executive from west Ealing has been recognised for his contribution to volunteering and in helping the community from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic by delivering shopping and prescriptions to vulnerable people as well as being at vaccination centres and guiding the public where to get their jabs.
David Goring-Morris, 62, started as a community response volunteer and then became a steward volunteer helping the public with ensuring they were guided on where to go to get their Covid vaccinations.
In just two years, David has been out and about completing over 100 tasks which has helped ease pressure on NHS clinical staff and has been honoured by NHS England and Royal Voluntary Service into its ‘100 Club.’
David said: “It’s lovely to be celebrated for completing 100 Steward Volunteer shifts and Community Response tasks. I have particularly enjoyed doing my bit as a Steward Volunteer to help protect my community from Covid, and I have met some brilliant people along the way. I will be continuing in my role for as long as I’m needed as it’s one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.”
NHS Volunteer Responders was launched at the start of the pandemic by NHS England and is delivered by Royal Voluntary Service and the innovative mobile app GoodSAM. Through the programme, volunteers have responded to more than 2.2 million requests for help in roles including Check in and Chat and Community Response.
Across the country, volunteers have helped over 200,000 people to stay safe and well during the pandemic.
More recently, Steward Volunteers have collectively completed over 300,000 shifts at vaccination sites to date, still donating their time to increasing that figure.
Catherine Johnstone CBE, CEO of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “NHS Volunteer Responders Steward Volunteers like David are invaluable in helping the NHS deliver the biggest vaccination programme in its history. Both NHS England and Royal Voluntary Service are immensely thankful and proud of volunteers like David who have gone above and beyond
David says that there is still a need for volunteers and if anyone is interested in taking part and helping across the community in Ealing to visit, NHS Volunteer Responders website.
