Helpful links during the COVID-19 pandemic
We know this is a very difficult time for everyone right now, however elderly and disabled people and unpaid carers are at particularly high risk of not having their practical and emotional needs met during the coronavirus crisis. We have therefore collated a list of helpful contacts for you below, from national helplines to local sources of practical support for getting food and medicine.
Local sources of support are listed for all the areas we have local services in, however you can find the phone number and relevant website for any local authority area in Scotland on this Scottish Government COVID-19 Shielding Contacts webpage.
In addition, the Scottish Government have set up a new helpline for anyone requiring essential assistance but do not have a network of support but are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. The helpline number is 0800 111 4000 and more information about it is available here.
National helplines and sources of support
Urgent, non-emergency medical advice
Violence against women and girls
Additional support for Learning at school
Online community for disabled People
Perth
Perth & Kinross Council Shielding Support Helpline: 0345 301 1100 (08.45 to 17.00 Monday to Friday)
Perth & Kinross Council Coronavirus Community Support website
Tayside Cares – Information, Advice and Assistance regarding coronavirus for residents living in Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross
PKAVS Carers Hub Call 01738 452214 or email carertelesupport@pkavs.org.uk
Regular telephone contact at least once a week to offer a listening ear if you are feeling isolated, worried or anxious. Information and advice. Directing towards other services.
Tulloch NET (Perth North Church) Call 07790 518 041 or Email grantmac.tullochnet@gmail.com
We can listen to people by phone to anyone experiencing emotional distress, including bereavement.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen City Council Coronavirus Sheilding Support Helpline: 0800 0304 713
Aberdeen City Council COVID-19 webpage
We run a school holiday feeding programme which is usually up to 60 children a day. So we could provide food delivery or help people get medicine if they are house bound, or if people need emotional support.Call 07800984850 or email barry@seatoncommunitychurch.org
Inchgarth Community Centre – collection of shopping and medication
Inchgarth community centre is coordinating a Garthdee area only shopping and medication collection, or dog walking service for the most vulnerable and isolated. This includes the elderly, people with disabilities, and most isolated living in our community.
People must email inchgarthcc1@btinternet.com with your full name, address including post code, and phone number. Please let us know what kind of help you require. We will do our best to pass on your details to one of our volunteers who will contact you directly to offer assistance.
Coronavirus Community Care – Portlethen and surrounding areas
We are community group began as an online community group now with over 600 members, and 100 active volunteers, coming forwards to express interest. We seek to provide support to those vulnerable and impacted by the situation.
Call 07396339448 or visit the jubilee hall. If you have received one of our cards call the written on the card, they are your local zone leader and will help.
Westhill Coronavirus Community Support – food and grocery deliveries
Join their facebook group to access contacts for support requests
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire Council Coronavirus Shielding Helpline: 0808 196 3384
Grampian Coronavirus Information Hub
Community Heart Peterhead – deliveries of essential supplies to those in isolation
This group has been setup by members of the public to get aid to the elderly and vulnerable whilst in isolation with no family to support.
Contact via their facebook page or by calling 01779 600020 OR 07948 476059
Westhill Coronavirus Community Support – food and grocery deliveries
Join their facebook group to access contacts for support requests
Aberdeenshire Rugby Football Club – Delivery and collection of necessary goods
Call 07850461206 or email jameslbpdooley@gmail.com
Moray
Moray Council Coronavirus Shielding Support Helpline: 0808 196 3384
Grampian Coronavirus Assistance Hub
Dundee
Dundee City Council Coronavirus Shielding Support Helpline: 0300 123 1403 (08:30 to 17:00) or Out of hours urgent request: 01382 307 964
Tayside Cares – Information, Advice and Assistance regarding coronavirus for residents living in Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross
Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action
We can signpost you to local organisations, businesses and groups which can help provide essential supplies and safely deliver to your door, keeping contact to a minimum.
Call 01382 305757 or email dialop@dvva.scot for support
We facilitate and pay for 1:1 counselling, provide weekly art therapy groups to people affected by suicide and/or have poor mental health. Food parcels since covid to families and older people.
Call 07921861113 or Email reach-across@hotmail.com
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire Council Coronavirus Shielding Support Helpline: 03005 550 407 or communitymatters@northlan.gov.uk
MADE4U IN ML2 – offering a 9am-9pm helpline supporting the most vulnerable in ML2
Call 01698 598110 or email contact@made4uinml2.com
We offer shopping pickups and food parcels – meal service – prescription pick up – practical support such as dog walking – weekly check in – listening ear service
Kirkwood Tenants and Residents Association
Food parcels delivered to your door, free sanitary products, advice and support
Call 07493 729360 or email kirkwood.association@hotmail.com
Help with grocery shopping for those unable to complete shopping on their own, or have no neighbours, friends or family to help. Help with urgent supplies and collecting prescriptions. Dog walking. Emotional telephone support for someone who needs someone to talk to. Assistance with IT or technology provided over the phone.
Request for help can be logged by survey – www.bit.ly/coronavirushelpers, by email scotinfo@volunteeringmatters.org.uk or by leaving a voicemail message on 01259 928 088.
Highland
Highland Council Coronavirus Shielding Support Helpline: 01349 886 669
Highland Council Shielding information webpage (online form also available to request support)
We are providing 2 course meals four times (over three days) a week in Inverness for those experiencing financial hardship, those vulnerable and/or homeless. To enable this to continue we are reliant on the health and goodwill of our volunteers and staff and importantly ongoing food donations from local business, suppliers and the general public.
Monday 12.30pm – 1.30pm & 5-6pm, Wednesday 12.30pm – 1.30pm, Friday 12.30 – 1.30pm, all at the In This Together Café, Church St, Inverness (For the alternate days excluding Sunday, see Inverness Foodstuff).
Call 01463238600 or email inthistogethercafe@inthistogether.scot
Small food parcels to people in the neighbourhood, basics to keep them going depending on what we can source.
Call 07713894742 or email rokzkool4u@gmail.com
Covid-19: Merkinch and South Kessock Community Support
Picking up shopping, medication or other essentials. Dogwalking and phonecalls from other locals.
Call 07557566552
Fife
Fife Council Coronavirus Shielding Support Helpline: 0800 952 0330 or email: covid.communityhelpline@fife.gov.uk
Fife Council Coronavirus webpage
Information, advice and services related to coronavirus including prescription delivery service.
Fife Forum – list of local resources and support
National helplines and sources of support
The Scottish Government have set up a new helpline for anyone requiring essential assistance but do not have a network of support, but are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. The helpline number is 0800 111 4000 and more information about it is available here.
Urgent, non-emergency medical advice
If you need help urgently but are not at risk of death or serious illness, use the NHS 111 non-emergency advice online.
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
British Sign Language (BSL) Users can use the Contact Scotland service to call NHS 111
Mental health support
Contact your GP in the first instance to arrange an appointment or discuss the type of support and treatment available.
SAMH Coronavirus Mental Health Information Hub – Contains useful information to support your mental health during the crisis with a list of helplines to calls if you’re in need of urgent help.
Breathing Space Helpline: 0800 83 85 87
Offers a free, confidential phone and web-based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.
Samaritans helpline: 116 123 (Freephone)
24-hour emotional support for anyone struggling to cope.
Papyrus Hopeline UK – Crisis support for young people
If you are under 35 and feel that life is not worth living any more, call Papyrus’s HopelineUK from 9am to 10pm weekdays and 2pm to 10pm on weekends.
Call HopelineUK on 0800 068 41 41 or text 07786 209697
Text: 85258
Shout is volunteer-run and is the UK’s first 24/7 crises text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere.
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason.
Call 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Free, anonymous webchat with trained staff
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm)
A free telephone counselling service for adults who experienced abuse in childhood.
You can get further information and make a referral by calling us directly on 08088 02 04 06 or by emailing: counselling@health-in-mind.org.uk
Violence against women and girls
Scottish Women’s Aid– Information, advice and support for women experiencing domestic abuse
Scotland’s domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline: 0800 027 1234 or email helpline@sdafmh.org.uk
Additional support for Learning at school
Reach – information and advice for young people requiring additional support at school with help coping with the coronavirus while the schools are shut
Talking Mats – easy read coronavirus resource
Other National Helplines
LGBT Health and wellbeing – online wellbeing support for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities during the coronavirus crisis
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) – advice for employers & employees
Age Scotland – advice for older people and their families
Asthma UK – health advice for people with asthma
British Heart Foundation – advice from medical experts on what having coronavirus means for those with heart or circulatory disease
British Lung Foundation – information and advice for those with lung conditions
Care Inspectorate – COVID-19 information and guidance for care services
Carers UK – coronavirus guidance for carers
Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland – information and support on coronavirus for people affected by chest, heart or stroke conditions
Cystic Fibrosis Trust – advice from UKCFMA for people with cystic fibrosis and their families
Diabetes UK – information for people living with diabetes and their families
ENABLE Scotland – emergency planning toolkit for carers
Inspiring Scotland – charity support service with one-to-one sessions & tailored support
Macmillan Cancer Support Scotland – guidance for people with cancer, as well as Macmillan supporters/volunteers
Mental Health Foundation – looking after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak
Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland – advice note on mental health care and treatment during coronavirus pandemic
NCVO – your organisation and coronavirus
Open University – free ‘skills for work’ courses
OSCR – Charities and Coronavirus: An update from the regulator
Primary Immunodeficiency UK – coronavirus and the safety of immunoglobulin products
Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution – Cranial Cocktail Workshop Resources
Scottish Commission for Learning Disability – easy read versions of Scottish Government coronavirus guidance
Scottish Government – Covid-19: Information for private and third sector childcare providers about business support
Scottish SPCA – coronavirus and your pet
Shelter Scotland – housing advice
Skills Development Scotland – advice and support on coronavirus for businesses and apprentices
Support in Mind Scotland – national information service
UK Government – guidance on use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Volunteer Scotland – coronavirus advice for volunteers
Young Scot – resources on coronavirus for young people
Official health guidance
For up-to-date information and news on coronavirus (COVID-19), see the following websites:
Batteries for hearing aids
Here is the latest information relating to provisions for those who collect hearing aid batteries from public libraries as many have closed due to COVID-19 measures.
In some places, libraries are being used as the venues for Community Hubs, so batteries are being distributed as part of an overall package of support from these venues. In most cases, libraries are looking for the NHS audiology departments to assist.
The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) has confirmed that although the distribution process for hearing aid differs between local authorities, SLIC have assured the Scottish Government that all public libraries in Scotland have a record of who collects batteries from them, and are contacting people to make them aware of what alternative arrangement are in place for them. The new arrangements consist of contacting their Health Board, arranging collection from a community hub, or arranging delivery of the batteries along with their food supplies. In all cases, a supply of batteries is being issued so that people have enough to see them through the lockdown period.
Many library services have also published information about hearing aid battery collection on their website and on social media – and some local authorities are distributing a hearing aid leaflet with each battery and are including the number of a local Health Board audiology officer that should be contacted.
Free Meal service
We match up volunteers in local communities who can share a portion of their home cooked food, with an older person living nearby who needs some help with meals. The meal share is usually a weekly meal which the volunteer will leave in containers with heating instructions.
Online community for disabled People
Euan’s Guide Online Coronavirus Forum
Euan’s Guide, the charity focused on making it easier for disabled people to get out and about, has turned their attention to keeping everyone amused whilst they stay indoors. The new online community, Euan’s Guide Forum, has been designed to be a positive space to share advice, ideas, suggestions and support. It is somewhere to connect, beat the boredom and escape the news. There you’ll be able to discover some of the wonderful things taking place online and join discussions around your favourite offline activities too. Designed for disabled people, their family and friends, the forum already covers topics including virtual experiences, tips for working from home and how to stay active. Everyone is welcome to join the group discussions to share their own activities and also provide links to things they’ve seen and read elsewhere.
