Councils are doing an extraordinary job responding to the challenges of COVID-19. We are building up a collection of case studies showing how councils have rapidly redesigned services, created innovative solutions to new problems, and collaborated with communities and other organisations throughout the crisis.
We hope councils find it useful to see what others are doing to feed into their own response, as well as showing the range of work being carried out by local government.
You can help us improve this collection of case studies by sending us your own examples of council-led good practice. Please email info@improvementservice.org.uk with an outline of the work taking place and the names of the council(s) and partners involved.
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Community support hubs have a record week helping residents in need
North Ayrshire Council has set up a community support hub network to tackle the challenges of COVID-19. The community support hubs bring together council staff and volunteers to meet the demand of assisting residents in Arran, North Coast & Cumbrae, Garnock Valley, Irvine, Kilwinning and the Three Towns.
East Renfrewshire COVID-19 community response
East Renfrewshire Council has been coordinating a range of actions to support communities across East Renfrewshire during the coronavirus crisis, particularly the most vulnerable people.
Connected Communities Resilience Bases
East Lothian Council has established a network of Connected Communities Resilience Bases across the local authority area to support vulnerable people or those who are self-isolating and have no other local support.
Shielding in East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire Council has been supporting 2,000 residents on the shielding list to lower the risk of them coming into contact with the COVID-19 virus.
Grampian Assistance Hub
A new website and phoneline provides people all across Grampian with information on how to access social, practical and emotional support on Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Humanitarian Assistance Angus Response Team
Hundreds of people in Angus are being helped by a new website and phone number launched to support those who due to serious health conditions are unable to leave their homes during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
Support for communities across Dundee
A new helpline and eight community hubs form the core of Dundee City Council's support for communities affected by COVID-19.
Delivery of essential baby supplies
Edinburgh City Council are delivering essential supplies of nappies and baby milk to families with children under two-years-old in Edinburgh.
Glasgow Hub offers help to hundreds during COVID-19 crisis
Staffed by partner organisations and volunteers from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Glasgow Helps website and phoneline outlines the range of support on offer to people across the city.
Tackling domestic abuse during lockdown
Aberdeen City Council is working with community partners to raise awareness of sources of help for people affected by domestic abuse during the current Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
How Aberdeen City Council has supported residents since the start of coronavirus
Helping almost 10,500 vulnerable people through a crisis telephone line, 1,128 food boxes delivered, and childcare for 502 youngsters are among the wide range of positive action to help residents which has been taken by Aberdeen City Council since the coronavirus lockdown started.
Clackmannanshire Community Helpline
A new Clackmannanshire Council helpline to assist those most at risk in their community during the Coronavirus outbreak was launched at the start of April.
37,000 meals delivered to Renfrewshire residents
Support packs including freshly prepared meals, toiletries and dry goods like cereal and tea bags are being distributed daily to more than 1,200 households by Renfrewshire Council.
Community Meals Service delivers lifeline to the vulnerable
South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership has set up a Community Meals Service, focusing on people who need help in preparing meals but do not need any other services from the Care at Home teams.
Fife Community Hubs
Fife Council has set up seven community assistance hubs to coordinate support for vulnerable people, which are prioritising the delivery of emergency food to households in both the ‘shielding’ and ‘non-shielding’ categories.
Virtual Meetings
Aberdeenshire Council has continued democratic input during the global pandemic by moving committee and other meetings online.
Partners pull together to protect communities
Strong partnerships between East Ayrshire Council, the third sector and over 90 community groups is ensuring vulnerable residents are supported during COVID-19.
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South Lanarkshire Crematorium Services Online
South Lanarkshire is offering an online streaming option at its Crematorium to overcome the restrictions imposed on who can attend services during the coronavirus lockdown.
Virtual visiting at Western Isles care home
With face-to-face visits not possible during the coronavirus pandemic, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has introduced ‘Virtual Visiting’ to Western Isles Care Homes to help residents stay in contact with friends and family.
Aberdeen City Libraries go digital and see huge surge in online use
Aberdeen City Libraries have seen online registrations rise by 200% after turning to digital technologies to ensure that readers of all ages continue to have access to reading material and resources.
Art lovers can stay at home and enjoy Aberdeen Art Gallery thanks to new app
Virtual visitors to Aberdeen Art Gallery can enjoy 50 highlights from the collection on a digital tour which was launched on Friday 17th April.
Supporting care experienced young people through the pandemic
An innovative app launched by Aberdeen City Council helps young people maintain contact with the social work professionals who support them and their families.
Live streaming of funeral services in Perth and Kinross
Perth & Kinross Council has recently introduced online streaming to allow families bidding their final farewell to loved ones to do so safely and while observing physical distancing.
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Daily dancing brings joy to Rutherglen care home
Rutherglen’s David Walker Gardens is using music and dance to ease the separations brought by COVID-19.
East Lothian launches mental health helpline
East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership has launched a phone line for people struggling with anxiety, depression or low mood during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Fife Bus helping the Scottish Ambulance Service
Fife Council’s wheelchair accessible bus service, Fife Bus, is transporting patients to hospital for their regular kidney dialysis appointments to ease pressure on the Scottish Ambulance Service.
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Free Period Angus - responding to the coronavirus crisis
Angus Community Planning Partnership has turned to home delivery and local shops and businesses to help distribute its free period products.
Aberdeen City Council makes sure pupils don’t miss out on education at home
The council has issued 800 laptops and 300 Myfi dongles for children and young people in order that they can easily access the curriculum and continue their studies at home.
Innovation and dedication keep pupils learning during COVID-19 lockdown
From online dance classes to digital assemblies, a lockdown journal to home based art classes, Aberdeen's teachers are ensuring that schoolchildren are maintaining their learning and having fun despite not being at school.
Continued access to free period products
Councils are making sure that no young people have to go without access for free period products throughout the COVID-19 pandemic even though usual availability in schools and colleges is restricted.
Youth work from a distance
Aberdeenshire Council’s Work With Young People team is finding new ways and means to continue to support around 120 young people across Aberdeenshire during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Hundreds of books delivered to vulnerable Edinburgh families in isolation
Families with vulnerable children who are shielding at home in Edinburgh are to have hundreds of books delivered to their doorsteps thanks to a new charity partnership.
Psychological support for young people at home
Advice and support for young people and their families in Edinburgh who may be struggling at home during the pandemic is available from the City of Edinburgh Council’s team of educational psychologists.
North Lanarkshire Big Camp Out
Hundreds of families from across North Lanarkshire they took part in NLBigCamp, a virtual camp out organised by North Lanarkshire Council’s Community Learning and Development (CLD) team.
Freephone helpline launched for Stirling's young people
The helpline, staffed by the Educational Psychology Service, is for young people who are feeling anxious or worried during the current pandemic.
Special measures to welcome new high school pupils
Welcome videos, virtual tours and school bags are ensuring Inverclyde pupils who missed out on their high school induction are still being given a warm welcome.
Ready, Steady, Sing!
East Lothian Council has launched a new website with a range of weekly activities to help families and children prepare for the transition to Primary One.
Aberdeen Music Service singalong videos
Aberdeen City Council’s Music Service for schools is releasing a series of musical singalong videos to raise viewers spirits during the COVID-19 lockdown.
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Gardening and nature videos during coronavirus
Aberdeen City Council's gardeners and rangers are starring in a series of videos with ideas for gardening and nature-watching at home during lockdown.
3D printing hubs created following success of school face mask production
After staff at Banff Academy in Aberdeenshire created more than 1,400 face shields for frontline workers, the council is creating small ‘hubs’ where similar manufacturing could be introduced.
Resilience Fund supports local response to coronavirus
Aberdeenshire Council is making grants of up to £2000 available to local groups supporting the pandemic response.
Extended role for Community Wardens
Community Wardens across East Lothian are helping to enforce social distancing regulations.
Communities pull together to help deliver vital supplies
An army of community groups and volunteers have been working with South Lanarkshire Council to bring much-needed help to vulnerable locals.
Schools supporting children, families and communities
Local schools in South Lanarkshire have been reaching out to support those facing hardship during the coronavirus response.
Fife's Helping Hands
Over 2,300 people have registered with the Fife Voluntary Action’s Helping Hands website to volunteer in their local community.
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Edinburgh museums and galleries launch contemporary collecting drive
Museums & Galleries Edinburgh are asking residents to contribute items and stories which reflect how the city has been affected by the global pandemic and lockdown.
Documenting everyday life during the coronavirus pandemic
West Dunbartonshire Council’s Arts & Heritage team has asked locals to share their lockdown stories so that future generations have a record of what everyday life was like during their COVID-19 outbreak.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar delivers Your Lockdown Library online
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has created Your Lockdown Library to gather online resources together and highlight the range of activities and opportunities available digitally through the library.
Library and Adult Learning staff offering digital help from home
Shetland Library and Adult Learning staff who are working from home are helping people get online remotely.
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Council teams up with local business to protect frontline staff
East Lothian Council has teamed up with a local distillery to help protect its frontline staff. NB Gin has switched production to hand sanitiser during the coronavirus crisis.
Schools across Scotland turn hands to PPE manufacturing
Schools and community groups across Scotland are helping out in the COVID-19 pandemic by producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for local businesses and care providers.
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New COVID-19 jobs support website
A new job matching website (c19jobs) has been launched by Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region deal to help reduce unemployment caused by Covid-19.
Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery Plan for Glasgow
Glasgow City Council has formed an emergency COVID-19 Recovery Group and is working with partners on how to best recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic.
North Ayrshire Council launches Community Wealth Building Strategy for COVID-19 recovery
North Ayrshire Council has become the first in Scotland to adopt community wealth building to plot a way forward now and post COVID-19.
East Ayrshire Gift Card
East Ayrshire Council has given its backing to an East Ayrshire giftcard in a bid to support local businesses as they emerge from lockdown.
Council service helps people gain employment skills during lockdown
Falkirk Council’s Employment & Training Unit (ETU) has ensured more than 800 people continue to gain employability skills during lockdown by adapting how it delivers its services.
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Homeless services strengthen partnerships during pandemic
Dundee City Council and local partners have transformed their homeless services to tackle the challenges of the coronavirus crisis and maintain support to some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
Help for Glasgow's rough sleepers
Hotel rooms have been provided for rough sleepers in Glasgow amid the coronavirus crisis.
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Council staff switching roles to support communities
In East Ayrshire, staff from across the council are taking on new jobs to help people dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Priority work on empty council houses helps free up hospital beds
Falkirk Council’s Building Maintenance Division (BMD) team is working on empty houses which can be used to accommodate homeless people and hospital discharges.
Cities introduce new measures for public physical distancing
Edinburgh and Glasgow are creating temporary footpaths and cycle ways to support physical distancing for people walking and cycling.
Celebrating the heroes of Scottish local government
Angus Council’s Communications team have been recognising the role of their key workers during the pandemic by celebrating them in their content.
Social distancing on the frontline
Frontline operational staff at Aberdeen City Council have shown how they are social distancing while carrying out essential work.
Highlighting the work of local heroes
Aberdeen City Council has launched a new community section on its website highlighting all the positive work that local people have been doing during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Seven days a week operation for Registrars
Midlothian Council’s dedicated Registrations team is now geared up to offer a seven days a week service.
Keeping the wheels turning in waste services
It’s been a tough few weeks for Midlothian Council’s frontline teams. But over at Waste Services, staff from across the council have pulling together to keep the bin wheels turning.
Leisure and Culture staff play vital role in combined effort
More than 400 South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture staff are supporting council colleagues and keeping customers engaged and connected during lockdown through online activities.
Oban Airport supports drone trials for medical supplies
Council-operated Oban Airport is providing safety support to a trial delivering vital medical supplies between Lorn and Islands District General Hospital, in Oban, and Mull and Iona Community Hospital, Craignure, Isle of Mull.