Glasgow Pulls Together to Create a Help Hub Amid Virus Crisis

A new Glasgow hub has been created to help people struggling amid the Coronavirus crisis - linking them to organisations and volunteers who are keen to help.

Glasgow City Council and the city's Health & Social Care Partnership have teamed up with Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS) and Volunteer Glasgow to create a hub which people can contact for help or to volunteer their services.

A new helpline has been set up to act as a single point of contact for anyone seeking or offering help. 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. Thousands of people have already volunteered via various different appeals and the plan is to co-ordinate this effort via the hub and Volunteer Glasgow.

A central directory of people and organisations offering support will be collated to enable those in need to be linked to the most appropriate source of help.

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "This global crisis is unprecedented and we must all pull together to look after the most vulnerable in our communities throughout this extremely difficult time. The pandemic is putting services under extreme pressure and, unfortunately, we are in this for the long haul.

"Staff at the council, health & social care partnership and NHS are all doing going above and beyond to ensure help gets to those in most critical need. But there is no denying that exceptionally tough decisions are having to be made and the pandemic is impacting on services. We are having to work with depleted staff numbers due to illness and self-isolation and having to support additional people who are being discharged from hospital as well as providing Home Care support to the most vulnerable.

"However, tough times like these really bring out the best in people and I know Glasgow citizens are keen to help in any way they can. We've already been inundated with offers and this hub offers an opportunity to link people with those in need in a co-ordinated way, as well as offering a lifeline to those in need."

Ian Bruce, CEO of GCVS said: "The voluntary sector and public sector have come together to ensure that anyone facing difficulties in Glasgow as a result of COVID-19 has a single point of contact to get help.

"If you are in Glasgow and facing problems associated with social distancing and self-isolation then call the helpline and we will try to put you in touch with someone who can help."

David Maxwell, Chief Executive of Volunteer Glasgow said: "Our priority is to make sure that organisations in the public sector and the voluntary sector know how to connect with the thousands of incredible offers of help from people who've come forward."

Organisations and groups seeking volunteers can do so for free. It will give them access to an extensive range of volunteers offering an array of valuable skills and experience.

Groups and organisations new to Volunteer Glasgow should register at:

https://opportunities.volunteerglasgow.org/vk/providers/registration_provider.htm

Following registration staff will be in touch by email. Registration is fast and easy. If you have any queries or please get in touch on findvolunteers@volunteerglasgow.org or call the helpline number: 0141 345 0543.