The COVID-19 pandemic had repercussions volunteers and perform basic supervision. VAI for our whole society. The economic impact designed a programme to address this gap. on businesses and employment pushed VAI increased personalised support to many more people into poverty. Voluntary and organisations and created a handbook for Community Sector (VCSF) organisations and volunteer managers and a resources pack local authorities were disrupted but demands to work during COVID-19, with safeguarding on their services increased. and risks assessment updates. Volunteering opportunities were uploaded to our online In response, Voluntary Action Islington made volunteer platform Simply Connect and help a major contribution to support the Borough’s with initial screenings was provided. VAI also crisis response, mounting a huge effort around provided over 900 volunteers to the mass volunteering, communicating and working vaccination site at the Business Design Centre closely with VCSF organisations and Islington and the pop-up clinic at the Emirates Stadium. Council. As the main representative of the local VCSF sector, VAI joined the strategic Islington Part of the response to the pandemic was the COVID-19 Response Group whose remit was creation of a network of Mutual Aid Groups to coordinate the pan-sector response to (MAGs). VAI hosted a workshop for MAGs support the most vulnerable residents. advising on how to organise themselves as formal organisations. From January 2020 VAI partnered with Age UK Islington, Manor Gardens Welfare Trust and In addition to support for the borough, Help on Your Doorstep to recruit and manage VAI was successful in applying for funding volunteers for the COVID-19 Vaccination via the National Association for Voluntary Programme at the Islington local clinics. By and Community Action (NAVCA) and the mid-May 2020, 790 people had registered to Department for Digital, Culture, Media and volunteer since the start of the crisis in March Sport for local emergency planning which (making over 1,700 in total). One problem was enabled VAI to provide additional online that many VCSF organisation did not have the support to those recruiting and managing resource to design volunteer role descriptions, volunteers. interview and screen candidates, induct new 38 Celebrating 50 Years of Service