Mass Vaccination Programme – new guidance for 16 and 17 year olds

Since April 2021 Voluntary Action North Somerset (VANS) have been supporting the recruitment and co-ordination of volunteers for non-clinical roles at vaccination sites across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire using Team Kinetic, a volunteer recruitment and management platform that allows people to register and commit to volunteering opportunities/sessions.

Previously, our volunteers have all had to be 18+ to engage on this programme, but we can now expand our volunteer opportunities out to 16 and 17 year olds with the back up safeguard of a parental/guardian consent form to support the registration.  This new guidance will enable us to reach out to a whole new cohort of young people, many of whom have already left school as their teacher assessments have been completed.  In the absence of travelling opportunities and available work roles, volunteering on the vaccination programme will have a range of benefits for these young people including  showcasing their engagement on their CV or university application, evidence to support a career pathway into the NHS and to develop some key skills they will need for the future.

There are a number of roles available across our sites including stewards, meet and greet roles and after care of people post vaccine.  There are restrictions for this age group in working outside, so car parking and queue stewarding will  NOT be available.

We have also had confirmation today that alongside our other Mass Vaccination site at Ashton Gate, the decommissioned Nightingale Hospital at UWE will open as a Mass Vaccination site from Thursday 8 July 2021

Signing up to register couldn’t be simpler – just go to the Voluntary Action North Somerset web page www.vansweb.org.uk and click on Team Kinetic to register.  We very much look forward to seeing you and joining us on this wonderful vaccination programme