Hundreds of people are being helped via a new Glasgow phoneline and website launched for city residents who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glasgow Helps hub outlines the range of support on offer to people across the city. It is a partnership between Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS), Volunteer Glasgow, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership. The hub was established by GCVS in response to the lockdown and growing number of people having to self-isolate during the crisis.
More than 300 calls were made to the Glasgow Helps phoneline from people offering to volunteer or asking for help in its first week. Assistance with the collection and delivery of essential medicines and access to and delivery of food were the most common requests.
Calls are answered by staff from partner organisations and volunteers from the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service. Callers are signposted to a range of charities and voluntary groups across the city who have sprung into action to offer help.
Thousands of Glasgow residents have already volunteered to help following earlier appeals and the plan is to co-ordinate this effort via the hub and Volunteer Glasgow, the city's lead organisation for volunteering. People who volunteer may be asked to help with tasks such as shopping or food delivery or simply having a daily phone call with someone who needs to self-isolate.
Ian Bruce , Chief Executive with GCVS said: "GCVS and the voluntary sector have been working tirelessly with Volunteer Glasgow and Glasgow's public services to ensure we act collectively to help people across our City - people who may have lost their jobs, who may be dealing with COVID-19, who are struggling financially and emotionally and who just feel that they are not coping with the situation.
"Through the helpline, we are working to connect callers to the support that is out there. Volunteer Glasgow and others are ensuring that people can volunteer safely and the information we have gathered on the Glasgow Helps website shares details on new and emerging services for those looking for support during this difficult time."