England cricketers Heather Knight and Sophia Dunkley have both signed up to the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme to help in the fight against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 500,000 people have already joined up to the initiative, an attempt to help shield 1.5 million people in the UK particularly at risk from the novel coronavirus, by picking up and dropping off medicines and patients from pharmacies and hospitals and making phone calls to check on those isolated in their homes.

“We’ve got quite a lot of free time at the moment and apart from trying our best to stay fit there isn’t masses to do,” said Knight. “I think it’s really important that we try and help as much as we can. I’ve signed up to the government’s NHS Volunteer Scheme to do my bit.

“I’ve made myself available to talk to people who are home alone, lonely and self-isolating and I’ve also offered to transport medicines. As well as my brother, I’ve got some friends who work in the NHS and we saw on Thursday with the clap at 8pm how much they mean to everyone, we should all support as much as possible, especially at this time.

“I think Dunks [Sophia Dunkley] has also volunteered, which is great. We all need to stay home, protect the NHS and help save lives but this scheme, if you’re in a position to help, is another way to help those on the frontlines.”

You can read more about the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme here.