How to refer
You can make referrals by submitting details online via the GoodSAM referrer portal or by calling our Support Team on 0808 196 3382.
Which organisations can make a referral?
Referrals for volunteer support can be made by professionals, including:
- Approved charity partner
- Approved VCSE organisations
- Community pharmacy
- General Practice (GP)
- Healthwatch
- Hospital
- Local authority (multi-disciplinary teams)
- Member of Parliament (MP)
- NHS111/Ambulance Trust
- Police or fire service
- Resilience Forum member
- Social housing provider
- Social prescribing/link worker scheme.
Who is eligible for support?
See referral criteria for more information on who is eligible for support for each volunteer activity.
How do I refer someone?
For our current volunteer roles you can make referrals by submitting details online via the Volunteer Responders GoodSAM referrer portal or by calling our Support Team on 0808 196 3382.
How do I refer people in for multiple activities? Can I do this?
You will need to make a new referral for each activity required by the person needing support. Multiple activities cannot be selected on the same referral form.
What part of the UK can I make a referral for?
Volunteer Responders is an NHS England scheme that runs in England only.
I don’t have an NHS or GOV email address, can I make a referral?
You can make referrals directly if you have an nhs.net or gov.uk email address. We will approve requests from alternative addresses as quickly as we can within 72 hours, or you can make referrals through your local authority.
Should a single nominated person set up an account on behalf of each professional referring organisation?
This is open to each eligible professional organisation to decide. We have left this flexible to suit different needs. If you want a colleague to access your referrals we suggest you use a generic email address when setting up your GoodSAM account.
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Page last reviewed: 05 June 2024
