News on how Scotland's voluntary sector is responding to the pandemic
Lorraine backs appeal
Scotland’s vulnerable children and young people need extra support now more than ever. Helping those in the most desperate of need is the focus of a new STV Children’s Appeal Emergency Coronavirus Campaign, fronted by Lorraine Kelly and launching today in response to the impact COVID-19 is having on communities across the country.
The appeal has joined forces with the National Emergencies Trust (NET), an organisation that collaborates with charities and other bodies to raise and distribute money and support victims at times of domestic disasters. All money raised via this partnership will help a child or young person in Scotland.
The STV Children’s Appeal works with hundreds of charities right across Scotland. In response to COVID-19, these charities are facing increased pressure to care for those affected and they are in desperate need of additional funding. The STV Children’s Appeal campaign is asking people who are able to donate to please give what they can.
Some people are struggling to feed their families and keep them warm, and many young people are struggling with isolation. To donate, please text FIVE or TEN to donate £5 or £10 to 70607. Here’s how donations could help:
• £5 will provide internet access to a young person feeling cut off from others
• £10 will provide a day of gas and electricity to heat a family’s home.
• £10 will provide essential food or urgent household items like nappies
The TV presenter said: “The generosity of the people of Scotland never fails to amaze me. We know that everyone has been affected by this crisis, but some are hit far worse than others. If you can help, no donation is too small, and the team will make sure it goes directly to the families who will benefit most from your kindness in these tough times.”
Care packs distributed
An Edinburgh children’s charity is delivering emergency care packs to families who have a vulnerable child and are currently shielding at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last week, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) - which supports the Royal Hospital for Sick Children – began providing free emergency packs of food and essential items to families visiting or being discharged from the hospital.
Now, the charity has expanded this service and is delivering the free care packs to the homes of clinically vulnerable families who are known to the RHSC and who are currently shielding for an extended period to protect themselves during the pandemic.
The packs contain food products and essential items including nappies, toilet roll, tinned soup, beans and tea bags to support families while they cannot leave the house to go shopping. The charity is also in the process of developing toiletry packs and creative care packs with art supplies to help keep children entertained at home and reduce isolation.
ECHC is delivering the packs to families’ doorsteps, as well as to nursing bases where community nurses and health visitors are also helping to distribute them. The charity will keep in regular contact with the families throughout their isolation period to meet their needs if they require additional packs.
To receive a care pack - Families known to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children who would like an emergency care pack are asked to contact Leigh at ECHC on 0131 668 4949 or leigh.drake@echcharity.org.
To support ECHC - A donation of £10 could fund an emergency care pack for one family, £15 could fund a special bedside play or creative session and £50 could pay for parents and carers to stay in ECHC’s parent accommodation for one week. Donations can be made online.
Helping people stay connected
A social care charity has been using technology to ensure it stays connected with the people it helps.
ENABLE Scotland runs regular community groups (ACE) for people who have a learning disability to connect with others. The sessions had to be cancelled as a result of the coronavirus, but now the charity has launched ACE Connect. Support will focus around online content, using social media to connect, and a dedicated helpline – and will be delivered via a robust and innovative online delivery and support model manned by ENABLE staff.
Jan Savage, the charity’s director of external affairs, said: “ACE Connect is a truly innovative new digital support service, created by members for members. It brings together people in their time of need with many aspects of ENABLE Scotland’s ICT systems and software in an effort to support, combat and overcome these terrible feelings of stress, doubt and anxiety which threaten to unnerve us all in the current climate. Our message to our members is – we are here for you all, and we will get through this together.”
More information is available on the ENABLE website.
Helpline starts taking calls
Citizens Advice Scotland has launched a new national advice helpline to boost the network’s service during the coronavirus crisis and beyond.
Scotland’s Citizens Advice Helpline is staffed by trained CAB advisers from across Scotland, and will supplement the service currently offered by Scotland’s 59 local CABs.
The line is free to call on 0800 028 1456. It will initially operate open from 9am till 5pm, Monday to Friday.
As a result of the coronavirus crisis, the Citizens Advice network in Scotland has adapted its services to meet people’s needs.
In addition, every CAB in Scotland is offering advice over their local phone contact and by email.
