‘One stop shop’ coronavirus help phone line set up in East Renfrewshire

The phone line can be used by people who want to help, or who need help.

The line has been set up by Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire (VAER), together with East Renfrewshire Council and Health & Social Care Partnership.

The hub acts as a ‘one-stop shop’ for those who want to help out or those self-isolating without friends, family or neighbours to help out and no means to organise their essentials.

After contacting the hub, volunteers are matched with local groups and organisations delivering support to the most vulnerable in our communities.

This could involve helping with shopping, prescriptions pick-ups, or social interaction. The community hub currently focuses its services on the most vulnerable in our communities, such as older people, those living with long term conditions and other vulnerable groups.

Ruth Gallagher, chief officer of VAER, said: “In the past two weeks, since the hub opened, we have taken around 128 calls from local residents in East Renfrewshire, and had offers of support from 123 people looking to volunteer.

“The response from the community has been incredibly positive, with almost every neighbourhood in East Renfrewshire being supported by a local Facebook group, formal organisations or neighbours helping neighbours.

“Our team at the community hub have successfully delivered 33 prescriptions to local residents and carried out 27 shopping trips.

“I am incredibly proud of the work of my staff team, volunteers and of course the amazing collaborations amongst the third sector, Health and Social Care and East Renfrewshire Council teams.

“East Renfrewshire has most definitely come together as a community that cares.“

To ensure that the community hub volunteers can deliver to all vulnerable residents who request support, the shopping service is currently limited to only essential items with a maximum of 12 items on the list, and will be undertaking shopping on Tuesdays and

Thursdays only.

The community hub is asking all who receive the support from them to follow the official safety guidelines and to prepare for their shopping delivery. Some of the asks include keeping cash notes in a disinfected envelope to be safely collected by volunteers.

The community hub can also make other arrangements with those who may not have access to cash at home.

The hub can be contacted Monday–Friday, 10am-3pm, by calling 0141 876 9555, emailing [email protected] or through Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire’s Facebook page.