Lochalsh Community Council

CORONAVIRUS

Locally Skye and Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations have set up a call up service to give help as communities implement isolation measures due to Covid-19. Many people will want to remain connected to local support services. SLCVO have set-up a call service where people can receive a check-in call every day or every 3 days to see if they are OK or need help to get food, prescriptions or fuel. If you would like to sign-up for a Community Call or know of anyone who would benefit from this please contact info@slcvo.org.uk for a referral form or if you have no email call 01478 612921. Their facebook page can be accessed here

Highland Council Help line - 200 phone lines

0300 303 1362

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

25 March 2020

For immediate release

Highland Council helpline now up and running

PLEASE NOTE - THE HELPLINE GOES LIVE TODAY FROM 2PM ONWARDS

The Highland Council has launched a free helpline to give assistance and to collect details of individuals and community groups looking to provide volunteering support during Covid19. The number will be live from 2pm today (Wednesday 25 March)

The single line number – 0300 303 1362 – will connect callers to relevant Council specialist teams and will operate Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. All calls are free.

Callers will be able to get advice on benefits and personal support, education and social care and there will also be advice for businesses who may need help with financial support. Helpline staff will also be signposting callers to other organisations that can provide help and assistance as well as gathering offers from individuals or community groups wishing to volunteer.

The service is operated by council staff and Eden Court volunteers who will be home based. Staffing levels will be kept under review to respond to the demand.

Chief Executive Donna Manson said: “I want to thank everyone involved for all their hard work for getting this helpline up and running in such a short time. As well as Highland Council employees volunteering we are also very grateful for the assistance of Eden Court staff. The Helpline is now in place to help those most in need of assistance, so we are requesting that anyone who can continue to use our on-line forms and resources do so as much as possible.”

To make a payment visit https://www.highland.gov.uk/pay
To report a problem visit https://www.highland.gov.uk/report
To request a service visit https://www.highland.gov.uk/request

The new helpline is just one of several proactive actions the council is taking. Work to set up a number of Humanitarian Assistance Centres across the Highlands is underway and details are expected to be published in the next 24 hours.

The Council is continuing to co-ordinate all offers of community group support, while the Highland’s 3^rd Sector is co-ordinating individual offers of support. There will be close joint working to maximise the valuable offers of support from community groups and individuals.

ENDS

Sylvia Tarrant
Corporate Communications Officer
The Highland Council, Chief Executive Service
Tel: 01463 702073 Mobile: 07776481267

www.highland.gov.uk

DEDICATED GOVERNMENT HELPLINES AND RESOURCES

NO SYMPTOMS BUT LOOKING FOR GENERAL ADVICE (SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT)

Scottish Government helpline: 0800 028 2816.

Open daily from 8am – 10pm

Also Google “NHS Inform coronavirus”

BUSINESS OWNERS

TAX CONCERNS (UK GOVERNMENT)

HMRC helpline: 0800 0159 559

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturday 8am to 4pm.

SCOTTISH BUSINESS OWNERS – ADVICE (SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT)

Scottish Enterprise helpline: 0300 303 0660.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm

IMMIGRATION ADVICE (UK GOVERNMENT)

Home Office helpline: 0800 678 1767

Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

PARENTS

GENERAL SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

Online advice on managing the impact of Covid-19 on their child’s learning and family life: parentclub.scot

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NON-GOVERNMENT GENERAL HELPLINES AND RESOURCES

ELDERLY PEOPLE

Age Scotland: 0800 12 44 222

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

HOMELESSNESS

Shelter Scotland:0808 800 4444

Opening hours are Monday-Friday 8am-8pm; weekends 8am-5pm

PARENTS

GENERAL SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

Parentline Scotland: 0800 028 2233

Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm; weekends 9am to noon.

SUPPORT FOR SINGLE PARENTS

Lone Parent Helpline: 0808 801 0323

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm

SUPPORT FOR PARENTS OF DISABLED CHILDREN

Contact: 0808 808 3555

Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9.30am-5pm

HOMESCHOOLING / EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

Literacy resources for ages birth to 12: https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/

PEOPLE WITH LOW MOOD, DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY:

Breathing Space Scotland: 0800 83 85 87

Opening hours are Monday - Thursday 6pm to 2am; Friday 6pm - Monday 6am

PET OWNERS

SSPCA: 03000 999 999

Opening hours are 7am-10pm every day

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DWP GUIDANCE (AS OF 23/02/20)

OVERVIEW – FULL INFORMATION HERE

From Thursday 19^th March, people receiving benefits do not have to attend job centre appointments for three months.
Fit notes will not be required for people who need to claim ESA Universal Credit because of coronavirus
Jobcentres remain open and will continue to support people who are not able to use phones and online, including homeless people.

ESA / UC

New ESA claimants who are diagnosed with or are staying at home on Government advice due to coronavirus will have money for the first 7 days of your claim included in their first payment.
People diagnosed with or staying at home on Government advice due to coronavirus will be able to apply for Universal Credit, and can receive up to a month’s advance upfront without physically attending a jobcentre
People diagnosed with or staying at home on Government advice due to coronavirus, will not be sanction, but must inform the DWP in good time.
If you need to provide evidence to your employer that you need to stay at home due to having symptoms of coronavirus an Isolation Note can be obtained from NHS 111 online. If you live with someone that has symptoms, an Isolation Note can be obtained from the NHS website

SSP

Statutory Sick Pay will be payable if you are staying at home on Government advice, not just if you are infected by coronavirus. This will apply from 13 March 2020.
People diagnosed with or staying at home on Government advice due to coronavirus, will have the work search and work availability requirements removed to account for a period of sickness