Helpers assist 1,000 of the vulnerable and needy in app trial

MORE than 1,000 vulnerable people were helped in the one-day trial of the NHS volunteer scheme, figures show.

The company behind the app used to co-ordinate the programme said that 1,240 of those in need of help were connected to members of the “volunteer army” on Saturday, three days before the official launch of the service.

Some of the first volunteers to be called into action have told The Daily Telegraph of their pride at being part of the service that will help 2.5 million people who are considered at risk during the coronavirus crisis.

The Royal Voluntary Service last night completed checks for 750,000 applicants at the end of the first day the scheme as it was officially rolled out across the country.

Volunteers will be delivering medicines to vulnerable people, driving them to appointments, transporting supplies and making regular checks on those who are isolating at home.

The process is managed through a mobile app, Goodsam, which was used by a small number of volunteers this weekend as part of the soft launch of the scheme.

Daryl Willard, a football coach from Hastings, was among those to be selected as part of the “tiny number” who had access to the service last week.

Mr Willard, 37, said he was matched with an elderly woman in his local area who is currently isolating and required volunteer assistance.

“Your phone gives you an alert and it asks whether to accept or reject,” said Mr Willard.

“You can start building relationships with people. They want someone they can trust.”

In Purley, London, volunteer Cathy Driscoll used her daily exercise allowance to collect a prescription from a pharmacy and deliver it to a household that is in isolation.

“It was a very smooth process,” she said. “I wanted to feel like I could do something to help.”

The Royal Voluntary Service expects the number of requests to rise gradually over the coming days as more vulnerable people require help.

The “army” of 750,000 volunteers is three times the original target and has allowed the number of those in need offered assistance to be expanded from 1.5 million to 2.5 million.