Community Call Project to help the vulnerable in Skye and Lochalsh during the ongoing coronavirus crisis
SLCVO (Skye & Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations) is working with the Highland Council, NHS and other organisations to ensure there are area more ways for people to access help and support during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
A new community call service is being set up where people will receive a check in call every couple of days. It will be managed by the SLCVO through their Skye and Lochalsh Befrienders group.
Calls will be made by volunteers who will report back to SLCVO co-ordinators. If a person needs supplies/help volunteers will work with local groups and people to co-ordinate help and follow-up to confirm it has been done.
This service will ensure people can access help in a safe and sustainable way as it will be run under SLCVO's befrienders service, which is supported by the Highland Hospice and our third sector support service which is funded by the Highland Third Sector Interface.
The last of the funding from Skye and Raasay local members Ward Discretionary Fund, (Cllrs John Finlayson, John Gordon, Calum Munro and Calum Macleod) and other local organisations (who will be approached soon) will enable SLVO to expand the hours of its dedicated co-ordinators to run the service every day of the week.
Skye and Raasay councillors John Finlayson and Calum Munro met recently with SLVCO Manager Jo Ford and Claire Nairn to discuss community resilience and support in Skye, Raasay and Lochalsh. Both members said they were heartened to hear of the many support groups that have already been set up by volunteers across so many communities.
The Community Call Project is now being set up and should hopefully be running next week. SLCVO will make an announcement and give additional details when the final details are confirmed.
Eilean a’ Cheò, Councillor John Finlayson said: "The goodwill of community members is so heartening to see and to get the most effective support to the greatest number of people and also those most in need, clearly needs a degree of co-ordination and strategic thinking and the Community Call Project will help do this. We also need to ensure that what is planned is sustainable, as support for individuals and communities is probably going to be needed for some time to come"
Anyone able to volunteer as telephone Community Callers are asked to email Sammy-Jo at volunteerofficer@slcvo.org.uk to register interest. Thereafter, volunteers will bel contacted you as soon as the SLCVO Board of Trustees sign-off the process.
Individuals and communities who know of any community groups or initiatives being set-up should email Claire on info@slcvo.org.uk so that work can begin on starting to collate a list of help and support.
SLVCO will let everyone know once the scheme is up and running.