Communities responding to COVID-19
August 7, 2020
There's loads of important and inspiring activity being carried out by community groups across Scotland supporting people impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Below we are bringing together some of the great examples we know of in order to help share ideas, enable connecting up and to highlight the strength and value of the community sector in supporting people through such a crisis.
Let us know if you want us to share any work you or others are doing in your community.
You can also use the #GoodNewsScot hashtag to see (and share your own) examples of great community repsonses being shared on Twitter.
Please note: this information has kindly been provided by community groups working hard to support people impacted by coronavirus in their communities. If you have any questions, please contact us in the first instance rather than the groups who will have limited capacity to respond to queries.
Castlemilk Together |
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Spring Social Prescribing: Connecting Well during Covid-19The “Connect-Well Service” launched by Spring Social Prescribing to adapt to social-distancing regulations imposed by Covid-19 has grown from strength to strength throughout the pandemic.There are 34, social prescribers working across Scotland and Northern Ireland, serving 28 communities in socially deprived areas.10 Social Prescribers are working in areas across Scotland. Each Social Prescriber contacts each and every client by telephone, text or video link every week. As restrictions begin to ease in this phase of lockdown, a small number have carried out socially isolated garden visits or walking groups |
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Lend a Hand Kintore |
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Lochalsh Community Response |
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Lochalsh Community Response is a new network in Lochalsh providing support for local communities in order to minimise the impact of coronavirus on people in the area, particularly if they are self-isolating, being shielded due to underlying health problems or affected by poverty and loss of income.The response covers seven community council areas and provides a Lochalsh-wide telephone helpline, a dedicated website and Facebook page, and a Food Share Project where food, nearing its sell-by date, from the local Co-op and Spar supermarkets, is
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Barmulloch Community Development Company |
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With funding from Foundation Scotland and Enterprising Provan Fund, BCDC has set up a unique Coronavirus Emergency Assistance Service which offers community support for Barmulloch and the surrounding areas. Community members are encouraged to phone or email if they need help of any kind and don’t know where else to turn. BCDC staff are able to signpost residents to appropriate services, support them with accessing resources and be a kind and reassuring voice in an otherwise frightening time.
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Collydean Community Centre |
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Crossroads Youth and Community Association |
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Crossroads Youth and Community Association has put in place a range of measures to protect and support communities in two parts of Glasgow, Govanhill and Gorbals.
Support staff were asked stay at home and prepare for remote working while full-time staff attended one of Crossroads' community hubs, the Barn, to do a deep clean and start to organise emergency deliveries of food and medications.The community work and youth work teams have continually provided phone/social media based practical and emotional support since March 16th, despite the fact that, during the same month, all full-time staff were required to enter into self-isolation due to a connection with someone who was hospitalised with Covid-19.The organisation has therefore put safe working conditions in place and workers have been going to the Barn and out into the communities, only when necessary, to organise and deliver essential food, fuel, communication top-ups and medications.In tandem with its response work, Crossroads has co-created an area response group (G5 COVID Support Group) in Gorbals along with cross-sector partners. This group has taken on co-ordination of essential supports available in the Greater Gorbals area. The organisation is also collaborating with Home Energy Scotland and is now a registered referral organisation for this national support service offering a one-stop hub of support for all things related to fuel and energy issues, benefits, and further supports. |
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Edinburgh Community Food |
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South Islay Development |
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South Islay Development (SID), a community-led organisation in Kildalton and Oa on the Isle of Islay has been engaged in a number of activities to support and protect vulnerable, isolated islanders as the coronavirus crisis develops.
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STAR Project |
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STAR Project - a community project in Paisley - pride themselves on the ability to be flexible, creative and responsive to the needs of their community. As of Thursday 19 March 2020, they began rolling out the resources and their new/adapted engagement tools developed to continue supporting the wellbeing of community members.
Specifically, they aim to tackle the impacts of Covid 19 which has exacerbated issues such as isolation, mental health and food insecurity within an already marginalised community.Following a call to action they recruited a staggering 67 volunteers & gained the support of over 60 partners.Their face to face supports are all now via telephone and Skype, and their workshops have all been moved to digital platforms, a virtual Drop-In, Facebook and Zoom workshops.STAR Project are busier than ever supporting hundreds of people each week! They’ve also adapted their Community Fridge and Pantry to deliver food packages and essentials to those who need it most. In the last 5 days alone they’ve delivered to 247 people.Download STAR Project's information poster |
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More stories...
Follow these links to see more great work in communities being highlighted by other national organisations.
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Castlemilk Together |
This blog highlights the incredible work that is being done across Castlemilk to support the most vulnerable people in the area during COVID-19. |
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Community Food and Health Scotland |
CFHS is sharing case studies of how community food organisations are adapting to Covid-19, starting with Moray Food Plus. |
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Community Landowner case studies |
Community Land Scotland and Community Woodlands Association have jointly produced a report highlighting the work of community landowner organisations in responding to Covid-19 in their communities. |
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Fernhill: A story from Kirstin |
In this article on the Corra Foundation's website, a community member in Fernhill in South Lanarkshire shares her story of helping to lead an emergency response supporting vulnerable households in the local area. |
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Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Community Partnership |
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Pooling Together: How Community Hubs have responded to the COVID-19 Emergency |
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The National newspaper |
The National newspaper highlights what three different community organisations, Galson Estate Trust Lewis, Dumfries' Stove Network and Govanhill Baths in Glasgowhave been doing to support their local communities through the coronavirus crisis. |
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Nesta |
This blog goes through some of the issues faced by the voluntary and community sector, and links to international examples of community responses to coronavirus. |
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SURF |
Scotland's Regeneration Forum (SURF) is doing a great job sharing stories of local responese to Covid-19 on almost a daily basis. Check their news feed for the latest up-to-date examples |
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