As we've been busy adapting our services to support the community during coronavirus, we’ve had some wonderful help from our European Solidarity Corps volunteers Sara, Naia and Jakob.
Adapting our support during coronavirus restrictions
The team at People Know How have developed socially innovative ways to continue their support for children, young people and vulnerable adults across Edinburgh.
As per government advice and to ensure everyone’s safety, we’ve adapted our services to online and phone support and since 17 March our staff and VIPs (volunteers, interns and placement students) have been getting used to supporting our service users from home.
Supporting the community from their living room
Not long before the coronavirus outbreak we welcomed a group of European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteers to People Know How. They’re still here in Edinburgh supporting us online from their shared flat which has now become their office.
ESC is a European Union initiative that creates opportunities for young people to volunteer with projects that benefit communities and people across Europe. Sara, Naia, and Jakob were up for a challenge and willing to dedicate themselves to helping other people.
Meet Sara
Sara is from Lombardy in Italy. With a Law degree and an interest in human rights, communications and journalism, she decided to use her gap year to volunteer through the ESC programme before doing a Masters degree next year. Right now she is working on a research briefing on ‘mental wellbeing during home isolation’ with a view to developing a resource toolkit for those who support isolated people struggling with their mental health. She’s also supporting projects within our Positive Transitions service and our Reconnect service, and writing an article for the website!
- Sara
Meet Naia
Naia is involved in Positive Transitions, with focus on an upcoming online project as well as Arts Therapies. She joined us from Galicia in Spain and applied to volunteer at People Know How because she wanted to support an organisation working with children and put her ideas and interest in creative activities into practice.
- Naia
Meet Jakob
Jakob recently completed a Masters degree in Social Work, Social Policy and Management. He came to People Know How from South Tyrol in Italy to gain some experience abroad. He is currently involved in Positive Transitions including an upcoming online project as well as befriending, supporting children and adults from home via telephone. He's also supporting Growing Your Ideas as a digital befriender, helping new businesses, charities and social enterprises implement their own business ideas.
- Jakob
We're continuing to develop even more ways to support the community during this time. For updates and a full list of People Know How's coronavirus-adapted services, check out our Coronavirus Updates page.