Evidence library

This report focuses upon examining how local authorities (LAs) and their voluntary and community sector (VCS) partners identified those in need of support during the pandemic and how volunteer capacity was mobilised in order to meet these needs.

The report concludes that the following were core to understanding the successes and challenges of mobilising volunteers to meet community needs during the pandemic.

1. Drawing upon diverse sources of local intelligence in order to understand who might need help, the nature of those needs, and the appropriate response.
2. Working in partnership across a broad range of public sector partners, the VCS and community groups, in order to access that local knowledge and coordinate and mobilise support.
3. Flexibility in responding to needs. Using local intelligence to inform responses and reframing approaches to safeguarding has facilitated integrated LA, VCS and more informal community responses.