Tap a 4-hour block to book yourself on as a rider or driver. You can add and remove your own
shifts; Control books controllers. Page through up to 4 weeks with Previous / Next.
Sign for Job
Hand over job
Sign in
Enter your portal password. It will know who you are.
Forgotten it? Control can reset you back to the code on your card.
Change your password
You signed in with the password from your card or email. Please choose your own before you carry on — the old one will stop working.
Pick something only you know. Four characters or more — longer is better.
Nobody, not even Control, can read it back afterwards.
If you forget it, Control resets you to the code on your card.
Items Collected
Tick the items and quantities you've actually
collected.
No items selected.
Pre-ride Vehicle Check
POWDER check before you ride. Tick what's good,
and note anything that needs attention.
Log hours you've already done
For anything you did without the app open
— a supermarket collection, a talk to a group, a morning cleaning the bikes. It all counts the
same as a shift.
Step back for a while
Life happens. This tells Control not to count
on you for now — you come off the allocation list until you say you're back. Nothing else changes:
your account, your history and your rota bookings all stay exactly as they are.
You don't have to give a reason at all.
Please don't put medical details here — the category above is enough. Only Control sees this,
and it's deleted when you come back.
Volunteer Help
How to use the Volunteer Portal. Tap a heading
to open it.
Logging in
Signing in with your password
Tap Sign in and type your password — that's all. There's no
name to choose: your password is what tells the portal who you are. Your first password is the
four-letter code on your volunteer card or in your email.
The first time you sign in, you'll be asked to choose your own password (at least 4
letters or numbers) before you carry on. The SOS button stays on that screen. Once you've chosen
it, the four-letter code stops working, so keep your new one safe. You can change it again any
time with Change password.
Forgotten it? Ask Control or an admin to reset it. That puts you back on the code on your card,
and you'll choose a new one when you next sign in.
Your jobs
Viewing assigned jobs
Each job you've been given shows as a short card: its reference, and the
one thing it needs next — Collect, Deliver
or Hand over — and where. Tap Open job to see that job on its
own, full screen: where you're going, a 📍 Navigate button, and one big button for
the next step. Instructions from Control are underneath, and Show all details has
everything else about the job.
If Control has given a time, you'll see ⏰ Needed by 14:30 — it turns orange
when it's close and red if it's late. If they've given a contact, a 📞 Call
button rings the person at the pickup or the drop-off.
Tap ‹ All jobs to go back to your list at any time. The SOS button is at the
top of every job.
Prefer everything on one screen? Tap Show full job cards instead under your jobs.
Switch to simple job cards puts it back.
Doing several jobs at once
Every job keeps its own card and its own next step, so nothing gets mixed up.
You can collect one, leave it open, and finish another first — do them in whatever order
works.
When you finish a job, the screen says Job done (or Handed over)
and lists the jobs still open. Tap the one you're doing next. If a job disappears from your list
and you didn't expect it, Control has probably given it to someone else — ring them if in
doubt.
With two or more jobs, the portal may suggest an order (🧭 Stop 1, Stop 2…),
based on the shortest estimated route. It's only a suggestion; you know the roads.
Confirming or declining a job
When a job is assigned, tap ✓ Confirm to let the
controller know you're on it — they get an instant alert and the job shows as confirmed on
their screen. If you can't take it, tap ✗ Can't do it and add a short reason
(e.g. comfort break, too far); the job goes straight back to the controller to reassign.
A job you haven't confirmed yet says Not confirmed yet on its card. Open it and
the Confirm buttons are at the top. No signal? Your answer is saved on the phone and sends itself
when signal comes back.
Not answered after 10 minutes? Your phone gets a reminder and Control is told, so they may ring
you. Please answer either way — Can't do it is fine; it lets Control give
the job to someone else quickly.
Urgent jobs
A time-critical job shows a red 🔴 URGENT banner and sits
at the top of your list, and you'll get an "URGENT" alert when it's assigned. Please treat these as
priority.
Recording the items you collected
If a job says "items to be confirmed at collection", tap Record items
collected and tick what you actually picked up. You can also tap Edit
on the items of any job to correct them.
Navigating to pickup & dropoff
Tap the 📍 Navigate button on a location to open it in your maps
app for turn-by-turn directions. If a what3words address is shown (the /// link),
tap it to open the exact spot.
Signing for pickup
When you collect the item, tap Sign for Pickup. Print the name
of the person handing it over, capture their signature on the pad, and save. This time-stamps the
collection.
Nothing to collect
Turned up and there's nothing to take? Tap Nothing to collect on
the job (under "Problem at the pickup?", near the bottom), before you sign for pickup. It records that you attended and closes the job under its own
category — the run still counts.
Signing for delivery
When you hand the item over, tap Sign for Delivery. The person
receiving it prints their name and signs. Once delivery is signed, the job is complete. A job marked
complete but missing a signature shows an "Awaiting signature" note.
Capturing a signature
Sign with a finger or stylus on the white pad. Use Clear signature (just above
the pad) to start again, then Save Signature at the bottom. The signature pad won't wipe if your keyboard
pops up.
Something wrong? (count, damage, temperature)
If something isn't right when you collect, hand over or deliver — the wrong
number of items, something damaged or leaking, a cooler or temperature problem, labels or paperwork
wrong — open ⚠ Something wrong? on the signing screen, pick what it is and add a
short note (e.g. "2 bags, not 3"). Then sign as normal. Control are told straight away and it goes on
the job's record. If it is urgent, ring Control as well.
Check the count (📦)
Your job shows each item with how many (2× Blood Samples), and the
signing screen — at collection, hand-over and delivery — starts with 📦 Check the
count and the total. Count what you are given, or handing over, before anyone signs. If it
doesn't match, choose ⚠ Something wrong? → Wrong number of items, say what you have,
then sign. If Control change the items or anything else on your job, you get a notification.
Signing with no signal (offline)
You can still capture a signature when you've no signal. It's saved securely on
your phone and uploads automatically the moment you're back online — even if
you close the app. A small banner tells you how many are waiting to upload, so proof of delivery is
never lost.
Relays & handovers
Relays and handing a job over
Sometimes a job passes from one rider to another — a planned relay, or
because you can't finish it. The job tells you exactly what to do, one numbered step at a
time.
If you're carrying it: the job shows which leg you're doing, where the handover
is, and who you're meeting (with a 📞 Call button). When you meet them, tap the
purple 🤝 Hand over to … button, give them the item and your
phone, and they type their name and sign. Tap Confirm handover. The job
leaves your list — you don't deliver it.
If it's coming to you: you'll see a 🔗 Coming to you card. Tap
Confirm so Control knows you'll be there, then go to the handover point. The other
rider gives you their phone to sign on — there's nothing to press on yours. The job
then appears in your list to take on or deliver. Can't make it? Tap Can't do it
and Control finds someone else.
Meeting another blood bike group: sometimes a neighbouring group rides part of a
relay. The job names the group and, once they've confirmed, their rider (with a 📞 Call
button). Either way round, it's your phone they sign: tap 🤝 Hand over to
… or 🤝 Take over from …, check the item together, and their rider
prints their name and signs. If you're taking it from them, the job is then yours as normal.
Can't finish an ordinary job (a breakdown, the end of your shift)? Once you've
signed for pickup, open the job, tap Show all details, then Hand over to
another rider. Choose who's taking it from the riders on shift, and do the same. Every handover is recorded with a signature, so the chain of custody
follows the item.
Vehicle checks
Pre-ride vehicle check
Before you ride, tap Vehicle check, choose your vehicle, and
tick off the check (POWDER for bikes, a car list for cars). If anything needs attention, note it in
the box — your controllers see the check and any issue you report.
If the vehicle is not safe to ride or drive, tick ⛔ UNFIT for
use. It is taken out of service straight away, your controllers are alerted, and nobody
can be given it until a controller returns it to service. A minor fault that is still safe —
a small fairing crack, say — just note it and leave that box unticked.
Shifts
Signing yourself on and off shift
On Home, the Your shift card shows Sign on shift when you're
off duty. Tapping it tells Control you're out and available, so they can allocate you jobs — you
don't need to wait for anyone to put you on. Being on the rota is the plan; this is you confirming
you're actually out.
When you're done, tap Sign off shift. You can't sign off
while you still have a job on the go — finish it or hand it over first — or while an SOS of yours is
still active. If you haven't logged today's vehicle check when you sign on, you'll be offered it,
but it never stops you going on shift.
My shifts
Tap My shifts to open the rota and book yourself onto a
4-hour block as a rider or driver. It shows the whole team's rota too, so you can check who else
is on with you. Page through up to 4 weeks with Previous / Next, and export to CSV. You can add
and remove your own shifts only — if you can't make one, use
🙋 Can't make it (below). Control book controller shifts and can change anyone's.
How your location is used (📍)
The first time you sign on, you're shown how your group uses your location, and
you can read it again any time from 📍 How your location is used on your shift card.
In short: depending on your group's setting, your phone's position is sent to Control while you're on
shift, only during a job, or not at all — and never once you've signed off. Pressing SOS always
sends where you are. Your position goes to Control only — other volunteers are never sent it.
Can't make a shift? Ask for cover
Under your booked shift, tap 🙋 Can't make it (add a note if you
like). Your shift stays on the rota marked Needs cover, so others can see it. Anyone
who can do it taps Take it — and you get a message saying who is covering.
If it's within 24 hours, the duty controller is told straight away. Changed your mind? Tap
Withdraw. If your group has set how many people each shift needs, short blocks
show in red (e.g. 1/2) — a good place to book yourself in.
Logging out (and how it differs from signing off shift)
Two different things. Sign off shift tells Control you're
off duty, but leaves you logged in on this phone so you can look at the rota. Log out of
the portal (under Account) signs you out completely and
forgets you on this device. Always log out on a phone or computer that other people use.
Messages & your profile
Messages
Tap the message button at the top of the screen to message Control. Whoever is on duty reads
it, and their reply comes back here; a red number on the button shows messages you haven't read.
If nobody is signed on to control, it may not be read until someone is: see Contact options.
You can add a photo — a damaged box, a locked door.
You can also message another volunteer who is on shift: choose them under Message a
volunteer on shift.
All messages are logged and controllers can read them. In an emergency use SOS, not
messages. Never send photos of patients or anything that identifies them.
Your ID card photo
If your group makes photo ID cards, you'll see 📸 Add your photo for your
ID card until you have one. Tap Take my photo. Face the camera against a
plain background, with no hat or sunglasses, then drag and zoom the picture so your face fits the
guide.
It goes to Control to approve, and the card says it's with Control. If they can't use it,
you'll be asked for another. Once it's approved the card disappears and your photo goes on your ID
card.
Time away, noticeboard, documents and training
Time away. Going on holiday, or away for work? Tap Time away
and add the dates. Control can see it. Your regular shifts are left off the rota for those dates, and any
shift you've booked in that time is marked as needing cover. Remove it if your plans change.
Noticeboard. News from Control appears as a card at the top of the portal when there's
something new. Tap it, or the Noticeboard button, to read everything.
Documents. Policies, forms and guides your group has shared. Tap one to download it.
Some say Please read: your group needs everyone to read these. Open it, read it, then
tap I've read it. Control sees that you've confirmed, and when. If the document changes,
you may be asked to read it again.
My training. What you've done and when it runs out. Green is in date, amber runs out
within 30 days, red has run out or is still needed. If something's wrong, tell Control: they keep the records.
You'll get a reminder 30 days before something runs out.
My hours. The time you've given, the jobs you've done and the miles you've ridden,
for this month, this year or all time. Only you can see your own figures here. A shift you didn't
sign off isn't counted until Control confirms when it finished. Missed some? Tap
Log hours you've already done under Account (or Shifts).
Team phone list. Colleagues who've chosen to share their phone number or email, so you
can reach each other. You're not on it unless you tick Share my phone number or
Share my email, and you can untick them at any time. Anyone signed in to your group's
portal can see what you share. It opens once you've started training.
Regular shifts and reminders. If you do the same shift every week, Control can set it up
once and it appears on the rota by itself. You'll see it at the top of My shifts. Can't
make one week? Remove that week's shift as normal. You'll get a reminder before each shift.
Shifts in your phone's calendar. In My shifts, tap Put my
shifts in my phone's calendar, then Make my calendar link. On an iPhone tap
Add to calendar and Subscribe. For Google Calendar, copy the link and add it
on a computer under Other calendars → From URL. Only your own shifts are in it, and it keeps up
with the rota. Keep the link to yourself; if you lose it or think someone else has it, make a new one and the
old one stops working.
Find a shift. Shows shifts colleagues need covering (tap Take it) and,
if your group has said how many people it needs, the gaps on the rota for the next two weeks (tap
Book me).
Swapping a shift. In Find a shift, tap Swap one of my
shifts, choose yours, then choose a colleague's shift you'd do instead. Only shifts that work for
both of you are shown. They get a notification and can accept or say no. Nothing changes until they
accept; then you're on their shift and they're on yours. Control can see every swap.
Some groups ask for a controller to approve swaps. If yours does, the swap waits for Control once you've
both agreed, and you keep to your own shift until you're told it's approved.
Your Artery card (🪪 proving you're with the group)
Tap My Artery card to show your name, photo and group with a
QR code. Whoever needs to check you, such as a hospital reception, scans it with their phone's camera.
They see VALID NOW with your photo if you're a current volunteer.
The code changes every 30 seconds and stops working after two minutes, so a screenshot or a photo of
your card won't pass. The clock and the moving stripe show it's live. It needs signal. If you're
somewhere without any, move to where you have some and the code refreshes by itself.
The QR never contains your password. If Control gives you a new code, or your access ends, any old
QR stops working straight away.
About Artery
Tap About Artery to read how it came about, why it's free for every group, and
who pays for running it. If your group shows it, there's a Chip in to Artery link too. That's
entirely up to you, and it goes towards running Artery, not to your group.
Finding your way
Home, Shifts, Resources and Account
The four buttons along the bottom take you around the portal.
Home: your shift, your jobs, colleagues on shift now, and shortcuts. While you're on a job, the
job comes first. SOS is at the top of every screen and still asks you to confirm before it sends.
The bar under your name shows who is on control; Contact options lists the ways to reach someone.
Shifts: My shifts, Find a shift, Time away, fundraising sign-on, and fundraising days.
Resources: the noticeboard, documents, training, the team phone list, places, vehicle checks and
where the bikes are, plus this help.
Account: your Artery card, your hours, logging hours, your password, and logging out.
Tips
Install on your phone
Go to Account → Install the app. It shows the steps for your phone:
one tap on most Android phones; on an iPhone, tap Share, then "Add to Home Screen". Artery then opens
full-screen with its own icon. On an iPhone, installing is also what lets job and safety alerts reach you.
Artery