Volunteering

Its a wonderful thing to do. I admire you for wanting to volunteer at this risky time . Personally I'd wait until more vaccinations are done and the danger gradually reduces. But good luck to you.

grandtanteJE65

Don't volunteer for anything until you have had both your own vaccinations.

My feelings exactly.
Sadly they have lost a brilliant volunteer in my DH (ex inspector/army) until he is vaccinated but a risk too far.

HillyN

Why assume the army personnel will be male?

I guess because Hilly it is mainly girls who come running to report or even invent stories about males, and, although wrong, it is far less common for them to report their own sex.
15 year old boys could react in the same way towards a female member of the army, but I doubt whether they have the same subtle agenda.
It all goes hand in hand with the attention seeking issue which has been discussed on GN in various threads recently.

Don't volunteer for anything until you have had both your own vaccinations.

Why assume the army personnel will be male?

This Government seems to have forgotten a few laws and continues to ride roughshod regardless. Those laws: when I was teaching pre-lockdown no teacher was allowed to touch a pupil in any way, stick a plaster on, give a cuddle to soothe an upset etc etc - all normal humanitarian behaviour was banned. Now it is suggested that anyone can not only touch but vaccinate a child without the parent/guardian being present !! Oner 18 is still a child in the eyes of the law so hands off - find another way Government !!
For your own protection, if this crazy idea does go ahead, just be sure the the school covers you against any liability and provides the correct coverings - or you are in trouble again !!

Oh aren't they just Ellianne. He looked at me Miss! Stop him from looking at me.

Sorry quick finger! Students doing tests themselves with supervision.

My GC school is expecting the students to do the

Free not from

DBS checks are from for volunteers

The vaccine will protect you from Covid, but not from catching the virus. You could still pick up the virus from the children without knowing and ofcourse transmit it to others who have not yet been vaccinated. After being vaccinated you still need to be careful not to spread the virus if you should catch it.

As the law protects people up to age 18 as being a child surely school children won't be allowed to self administer a test. Well done for considering volunteering, don't think I would.

The problem with actual testing in schools is that the children trust the teacher, (not random strangers). That rules out army personnel and others getting anywhere near close to pupils. My guess is that these extras would be used as marshalls. (Though 15 year olds are still capable of fabricating "improper looks" to good effect!!)

The enhanced DBS check is free for volunteers - there will be a charge only if the school has outsourced the checking to a company, and even then the volunteer does not pay.

Could you donate food to a foodbank aonk? It would still be helping even if it isn't actually volunteering.

I’ve been wanting to volunteer in some capacity since the pandemic began. I’d like to be involved either with a food bank or with the vaccination programme. My heart says yes each I think about it but my head says no. I’m quite simply not brave enough to do it. It would also upset my family especially one very anxious DD who tries so hard to protect me and my DH. It’s a very difficult situation and I admire those who volunteer so much.

There’s clearly a risk. However nobody could tell you what the risk is.
PP1 isn’t infallible- otherwise medical staff would not have become infected?
Healthy people get seriously ill, as do younger people. Nobody is immune yet.
You have to weigh up how much you want to do it versus the risk you perceive.
Personally, I’m avoiding any supermarket or indoor, closed public environment and have been since this latest variant proved so virulent.
I’ve had it last May but apparently could easily have it again. It’s definitely not an experience I would ever want to go through again.

With 1500 army personnel covering nearly 4000 secondary schools and colleges, I doubt they are going to be high profile.

It sounds as though you have your own reservations because you're asking for advice so "NO" don't volunteer if you have any doubts whatsoever. I would not advise a loved one to put themselves at risk in a voluntary capacity when they don't need to. If it's family that need help, that's different. I'm 64 next month and like you feel confident because I'm healthy but I'm extremely cautious because I'm closer to 70 and past 60. Also I don't want to be a burden on my family or cause them distress if I contract the virus or worse still be unlucky and die. Think of yourself. Younger people have to work to keep themselves or a family God help them, so is it worth putting your life at risk?

There are even doubts as to whether the army would do the actual tests involving touching pupils in any way. Can you imagine stories from 14 year old girls? Oh god yes Ellianne! Half of them would be swooning at the sight of soldiers. The other half would be making disclosures about improper touching.

Except you wouldn’t go to the supermarkets for that long ! But still good for you volunteering.

My Mum is the same age as you but still in full time employment in a high risk environment, she has been asked to give the vaccine but she has said no, not unless she is vaccinated first! I am a bit aghast people giving the vaccines who are over 40 aren't being vaccinated first - even under 40 tbh

I am 71 and am currently volunteering at a vaccination centre. My family and friends were concerned about me volunteering at my age but it is the best decision I have made since lock down. I now feel that I am doing something useful for the first time in months. I am careful and masks and gloves are supplied and my reasoning is that I could as easily get it in the supermarket as the vaccine centre.

I doubt whether the volunteers will be doing the actual testing, more organising the queue of pupils and ticking off the lists. There are even doubts as to whether the army would do the actual tests involving touching pupils in any way. Can you imagine stories from 14 year old girls?
Another issue being considered is what age is considered reliable and responsible enough for the pupil to carry out their own test.