Liverpool and Scotland footballer Andy Robertson backs Age Scotland efforts during coronavirus pandemic

The Age Scotland helpline is dealing with ten times the number of calls it would normally receive and is scaling up to meet the huge increase in demand from older people seeking information, advice and friendship as Scotland responds to coronavirus.

The Champions League winner, a former player at Giffnock Soccer Centre, is urging older people needing advice to call the free helpline.

“I’ve got older family members myself so I know what a worrying time this is for them,” said Andy, a former pupil at St Ninian’s High School in Giffnock.

“It can be hard to know where to get good information and advice, or even how to have a friendly chat if you are on your own. This is especially so if you are not online, like half a million over 60s in Scotland.

“I want people to know that Age Scotland is here for them. Their fantastic helpline is offering great support to older people and their families as we all adapt to a new way of life for a while.

“Please call them on 0800 12 44 222.”

The charity is now operating a ‘virtual call centre’ with advisers working from home to handle the surge in the number of inquiries and ensure that older people across Scotland have access to all the support available. Most of the charity’s staff have now been drafted in and trained to work in the helpline service.

The vast majority of calls from older people and their families have been seeking advice or information about issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Age Scotland website’s comprehensive coronavirus advice pages at have also seen an unprecedented increase in traffic as people seek more information about the virus, the latest advice from the Scottish Government and NHS, practical ways to help older people, staying safe, and how to look after their health and wellbeing

This is available at www.age.scot/coronavirus

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s chief executive, said: “We’re really grateful to Andy Robertson for helping to make sure older people know about Age Scotland’s free helpline and how they can access help and support. His support means a great deal to older people and to Age Scotland.

“Coronavirus is causing a great deal of anxiety among older people and their families. Many people don’t know where to turn for information, advice and how to access the range of services which are sprouting up across Scotland to support them. We are here to help.

“The main concerns of callers have largely been about access to food, medication and social care, but as it develops and shifts every day we are having to adapt quickly and decipher new information as it arises. Many of the calls have been people desperate for help.

“The staggering increase in phone calls has of course been immensely challenging but it demonstrates the level of need across the country. I am extremely proud of how our helpline advisers and staff have risen to this challenge.

“While it might take a little longer than normal to get through to us, we are here to offer information and advice but also to have a friendly chat with older people who might be feeling more lonely and isolated than normal.”