A new Dundee helpline was launched in April providing lifeline support and supplies for vulnerable people who have been advised to shield themselves against coronavirus, but have no way to access services.
The Freephone number will allow citizens to speak to council advisers, who will then be able to target emergency aid directly. This could include the urgent delivery of food, hygiene products and medicines if the person taking shielding precautions has no other method to access these vital supplies.
The new number, which operates from Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm, is the latest development in the council’s response to the emergency.
The council has established eight Community Support Centres across Dundee which are open for childcare for children of key workers and identified vulnerable young people. As the crisis progresses, these centres will provide a range of coordinated support to assist people in their local community. They will serve as local focal points for distribution and outreach services, as well as allowing the council to identify where intervention is needed. The city council has worked with Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action to co-ordinate the recruitment and deployment of volunteers from the centres.
Meanwhile, planning is well underway for emergency food distribution with the former Michelin site now designated as a central distribution facility for this operation.
Separately, the council is exploring methods of helping families who qualify for school clothing grants with free school meal entitlement from April 13, which would have been the start of the new term.
A single point of contact internet portal is being launched at www.taysidecares.co.uk to help provide a joined-up response in the wider Tayside local resilience partnership area, which includes Angus and Perth & Kinross.