Safe Home Working: Difference between revisions
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====Help and Support==== | ====Help and Support==== | ||
We all work in quite isolated circumstances, but please don't feel you're on your own. There are online social contacts you can make with other volunteers via the Discourse national groups (click 'Us' in the menu bar on ModTools). | We all work in quite isolated circumstances, but please don't feel you're on your own. There are online social contacts you can make with other volunteers via the Discourse national groups (click 'Us' in the menu bar on ModTools). There is also a Freegle Volunteers Community on WhatsApp, which has 3 groups - one being a Freegle Informal Chat group. | ||
If you want some advice or support within Freegle, you can contact the following: | If you want some advice or support within Freegle, you can contact the following: | ||
Latest revision as of 20:14, 5 August 2026
These are some things to consider to keep yourself safe and healthy while working from home.
The HSE has good advice at https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/home-working.htm
Consider
- Set up your desk or table space to support a neutral posture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40YgrnKvI84
- Ergonomic recommendations for laptops - the NHS has advice at https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/posture-tips-for-laptop-users/
- Avoid neck strain when using your phone. 'Text neck' describes a repetitive stress injury or overuse syndrome in the neck, caused by prolonged use of mobile devices with the head bent downward and not moving. Also called tech neck, it's commonly associated with texting, but it can relate to many activities on phones and tablets performed while looking downward, such as browsing the web, playing games, or working. See https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/how-does-text-neck-cause-pain
- Take breaks often to move and stretch, whether you're using a phone, computer or laptop. The NHS has back-stretch advice at https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/posture-tips-for-laptop-users/
- Check your home office environment for hazards. This includes:
- tidying away cables so they can't be tripped over
- electrical safety - https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2020/04/how-safe-is-your-work-from-home-setup/
- Eating a healthy diet and keeping hydrated.
Online Precautions
- Use secure and different passwords for all your online activity.
- Be careful about the amount of personal information you give out while volunteering for Freegle.
- Avoid getting involved with difficult personal situations of Freegle members.
Help and Support
We all work in quite isolated circumstances, but please don't feel you're on your own. There are online social contacts you can make with other volunteers via the Discourse national groups (click 'Us' in the menu bar on ModTools). There is also a Freegle Volunteers Community on WhatsApp, which has 3 groups - one being a Freegle Informal Chat group.
If you want some advice or support within Freegle, you can contact the following:
- https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/c/central - the national discussion group for general questions and issues.
- mentors@ilovefreegle.org - the Mentor team can offer one-to-one support for a range of situations.
- info@ilovefreegle.org - confidential support mailbox.
- board@ilovefreegle.org - if you feel you have not received the support you need, you should refer the matter to the Board by email. The matter will be entered on the agenda for the next Board meeting.
Events and Meetings
There are occasions when you might extend your volunteering outside of your home. At events, please make sure you take safeguarding considerations into account for others and yourself. Safeguarding at Events
