Helping vulnerable people and frontline staff get vaccinated

The Salvation Army is working with the NHS and local authorities to get the Covid-19 vaccine to our frontline staff and vulnerable clients living in our lifehouses (supported housing for former homeless people) and care homes.

Across the country, support workers, corps officers and volunteers are providing practical support to help and encourage people to get vaccinated.

At the end of January, more than 100 residents and staff at The Salvation Army’s Founders’ House and Riverside Lifehouses in London were provided with the jabs by nurses from the local GP surgery.  Helen Wilson, Service Manager, said; "It is really important that our staff and residents have the vaccine. Ensuring that as many people who come into contact with our services as possible are vaccinated will safeguard and protect everyone”. 

In Birmingham, clients at our William Booth centre Lifehouse attended the vaccination centre at Millennium Point. The Lifehouse manager, Edward Dixon said: “We have made information available here at the centre and clients can also talk to their support workers about the vaccine. The NHS knows the needs of our clients and made it easy for those getting the jab”.

Our Bradford Orchard minibus (shared between the lifehouse, day-shelter and coffee shop) was used to drive NHS vaccination staff out to people housed temporarily in B&Bs, hostels and other places so that no one misses out on an opportunity to receive the vaccine.  

Despite the snow, our team of volunteers and staff have also headed out in one of our emergency response vehicles to vaccination centres across Kent offering hot snacks and drinks for key workers and healthcare volunteers.