COVOLEX - The Community Volunteer Exchange: Safe and trusted community circles facilitating payments and local connections

“更安全的护理需要从社区做起”(学术健康科学网)，在新冠肺炎大流行期间，社区的安全和护理从未像现在这样重要。英国政府的“留在家里”政策以前所未有的方式让人们在当地社区站稳脚跟，这既突显了社区支持的必要性，也强调了人们提供支持的意愿。新冠肺炎在执行食品和药品等基本基本任务方面创造了前所未有的援助需求，也为未来正在进行的社区合作带来了新的希望。70岁及以上有潜在健康状况的人受到的影响最严重，但任何人都可能在任何时候出人意料地被要求在家里自我隔离。由于心理健康与情感联系如此紧密，在孤立期处于危险之中，新冠肺炎疫情突显出，我们所有人都需要安全护理，包括在当地社区的家里。无论是在当前危机中还是在长期，我们社区的关怀和志愿服务都是至关重要的。不幸的是，犯罪也在大流行中激增，有报道称，欺诈者利用机会获利。*这个项目提供了一种新的技术解决方案，重点是帮助志愿者和有需要的人以安全可靠的方式交换付款和获得补偿，增强对当地社区和邻里团体的信任。*它提供身份验证，支持可信的志愿者交流，并鼓励安全的社区参与。它的目的是为那些不太方便数字化或完全断开连接的人提供选择。在英国各地，志愿者们对这场危机的反应是压倒性的(NHS/RVS的GoodSAM应用程序有50多万人，他们是迅速形成的社区当地团体)。我们已经看到志愿人员的意愿发生了一步的变化，但付款和报销流程是最大限度地促进社区交流的障碍。安全、信任和防止剥削至关重要。换钱是有风险的：现金、病毒传播，以及在“家门口”犯罪中容易被盗；通过数字手段，相信还款将会发生并正确到达。非现金方法涉及数字意识；如果没有数字设施，许多人可能不愿寻求他们需要的帮助。从文化上讲，谈论金钱往往令人尴尬。尴尬阻碍了联系和志愿者交流。我们解决了这个痛点。这个创新英国项目专注于Covolex应用程序的开发和商业化。示例功能：为社区提供任务请求和志愿服务；验证身份检查；提供无缝和可审计的支付/报销支付设施；以及为数字脱网者提供服务。它的规模是全国性的，但重点是地方。

'Safer care needs to start in the community' (Academic Health Science Network), and safety and care in the community has never been more important than during the Covid-19 pandemic. The UK government's 'Stay at Home' policy grounded people their local communities like never before, highlighting both the need for community support, and the willingness of people to offer it. Covid-19 created an unprecedented demand for assistance in carrying out basic essential tasks such as securing food and medicines, and also offered the hope for a new level of ongoing community cooperation in the future. Those 70+ and with underlying health conditions are affected most severely, but anyone could be unpredictably required to self-isolate at home at any time.With mental health so closely tied to feelings of connectedness and at risk in periods of isolation, the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted that we all require safe care, all of the time, including when at home in our local communities. Caring and volunteer service in our communities is vital, in the immediate crisis and in the long-term. Unfortunately crime proliferated in the pandemic, too, with reports of fraudsters exploiting opportunities to take advantage. *This project provides a new technology solution focused on helping volunteers and those in need to exchange payments and receive reimbursements in a safe and secure way, creating enhanced trust in local communities and neighbourhood groups.* It provides identity verification, supporting trusted volunteer exchanges and encouraging safe community engagement. It is designed to provide options for those less digitally facile or disconnected altogether.The volunteer response to the crisis has been overwhelming (500,000+ for the NHS/RVS's GoodSAM app, rapidly-formed local groups in communities) across the UK. We have seen a step change in the willingness to volunteer, yet payment and reimbursement processes are a barrier in maximising community exchanges. Safety, trust, and the prevention of exploitation are vital. Exchanging money involves risk: with cash, viral transmission and vulnerability to theft in 'doorstep' crimes; with digital methods, trust the repayment will happen and arrive correctly. Non-cash methods involves digital awareness; without digital facility, many may be reluctant to ask for the help they need. Culturally, talking about money is often awkward. Awkwardness discourages connection and volunteer exchange. We address this pain point.This Innovate UK project focuses on Covolex application development and commercialisation. Sample features: a task request and volunteering service for communities; verified ID checks; providing a seamless and audit-able payment/reimbursement payment facility; and catering for the digitally disconnected. It's scale is national, but the focus is local.