Who can volunteer during this phase of Jamatkhana re-opening?
Given the nature of the duties involved, the importance of adhering to protocols, and the requirement for a full understanding of the significance of the duties, volunteers should be 13 years of age or older.
Those who are 70 years of age and older or have underlying medical conditions (e.g. heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer) or have a compromised immune system from a medical condition or treatment (e.g. chemotherapy) are considered vulnerable.
It’s a good idea to think about extra precautions you could take to volunteer safely, for your own safety and for those you might be serving.
Anyone over 70 and/or with underlying health conditions must be risk assessed and assigned duties accordingly, please contact your local Captain for further details.
Do volunteers need to undergo screening?
Yes, volunteers must take the pre-screening questionnaire as required by all during the Jamatkhana registration process, regardless of whether they are volunteering indoors or outdoors.
Questions will include whether the volunteer is experiencing COVID-related symptoms, has had a recent COVID positive test result, has had recent exposure to someone with COVID-19 without PPE, or has recently travelled outside of the country.
What safety precautions should I take as a volunteer?
Volunteers are asked to wear a mask at all times and follow official guidelines for removing the mask after use.
Please avoid shaking hands or any other physical contact.
Volunteers should maintain a distance of 2 metres between themselves and others.
If volunteers come across a murid who is ill or not feeling well, they should inform their Captain or Officer immediately.
If at any point while volunteering, you feel uncomfortable or unwell, immediately inform your Captain or Officer and make arrangements to leave. If you develop any of the Covid-19 symptoms (a high temperature or a new continuous cough), please inform your Captain or Officer immediately and stay home to self-isolate or if you are seriously unwell, call NHS 111 or dial 999.
Volunteers should minimize the amount of time spent on Jamatkhana premises.
Volunteers should only arrive just-in-time for their duties and leave immediately after and not remain on premises. It is highly recommended to not take public transport on your way to volunteer duty.
Volunteers should ensure that they are frequently washing their hands or using hand sanitiser; avoiding touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; and coughing or sneezing into the bend of the arm. Volunteers should wash their hands right after touching frequently-touched surfaces.
Should I bring my own mask and gloves?
Volunteers are requested to bring their own personal protective mask. Should they not have one, they will be provided with a mask to use during their duty. Wearing gloves is not encouraged generally as they can be a source of infection transmission. However, if required for specific tasks, they will be provided.
Do I need additional training?
Yes, all volunteers will be required to complete their IVC training sessions prior to arriving on site and starting their duty.
If I'm volunteering outside, can I go inside after my duty?
Outdoor volunteers should not enter the premises unless they are being escorted by or upon the request of a Captain, Vice-Captain or Officer as long as the maximum capacity is not violated, and the appropriate pre-screening has taken place.
What do I do when I'm finished my duty?
Post-volunteering, volunteers should check out with the Captains or Officers and follow procedures in place to appropriately leave the building/premise.
If you are unwell after volunteering and develop any of the Covid-19 symptoms (a high temperature or a new continuous cough), please inform your Captain or Officer immediately and go home to self-isolate or if you are seriously unwell, call NHS 111 or dial 999.