Volunteering Remotely with the SAcommunity Team

SAcommunity Team working from home (WFH): (Pictured R - L) Alexander Bull, Catherine McIntyre, Samantha Whillas, Stathis Avramis, David Webb, Nirupama Amarakoon, Edward Windsor and Flavia. Current participating team members not pictured include: Erin, Audrey Menz, Cheryl, Sophie Hood, Malcolm and Samantha Agius. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and transitioning to remote working
To comply with social distancing, many companies and organisations are transitioning to a remote workforce. This can be a challenge for those who have not managed a distributed workforce before.


Tech Resources for NFPs during the Covid-19 crisis 
- https://www.connectingup.org/page/covid-19-nfp-resources

Connecting Up Inc. has listed a number of free or heavily discounted remote work resources available to charities and Not-for-profits (NFPs). Some of these are available to qualified Connecting Up members via our web store, and others are available directly from the supplier.

SAcommunity Volunteers are now volunteering remotely 

The SAcommunity Team is utilising some of these tools to continue to volunteer and provide the SAcommunity service on community groups, not-for-profits and charities for information and access to assistive services for South Australia.
 

Many of our volunteers share the experience of people across the state, they have had their studies move online, work cancelled or are working from home and so are getting together (virtually) to donate their skills and time to help us with SAcommunity.
 

Our volunteers are updating details, contacting groups and telling the stories of services. SAcommunity statistics provide an indication of service demands at this time, with food assistance, housing, followed by social activities as most popular searches accessed. SAcommunity volunteers have been busily accessing training in new tools including Microsoft Teams and Slack to learn new ways of working collaboratively offsite. 

Is your community service running virtual activities or events with technology?  

If you are a community service and are using technology creatively to continue providing your service, let us know.

We have heard from True Heights Dance Company, who have recorded their performance choreography for their students and posted it on Facebook. Zumba, Yoga clubs and martial arts clubs such as Kenpo4LifeAdelaide who are using Zoom to continue to run their classes in real time online.

Other groups we have heard from include social support services such as The Queer Society who have moved online with their digital hub hosting chats and forums and assistive services including the Aged Rights Advocacy Service Inc. (ARAS) who have set themselves up to continue to provide help via phone and email despite their offices being closed >>here. 
 

Tell us what you have tried and what works for your organisation!