If you need third sector support, please reach out to us via phone at 0300 303 4141 or email at support@argylltsi.org.uk. 

There is a multiagency Caring for People Helpline, which can offer help with Financial; Business; Health; Education; Registration; Social, Domestic and Medical Homecare Needs and volunteering. Call 01546 605524, from 9am to 5pm, Mon-Fri; a 24hr online help form is also available. If you have other options, please leave this line open for vulnerable people. More info on the helpline can be found here. Note that this number is NOT for health concerns related to the virus; for those you should refer to the NHS website here.
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The Argyll & Bute Council have added a "Help for Communities" page, which is part of their dedicated​ ​COVID-19 section.

If there is anything you think should be added to this page--or have any other questions or concerns--please contact our Engagement Manager, Jakki Spicer, at jakkispicer@argylltsi.org.uk.

COMMUNITIES:
Many of us are seeing a huge, community-minded response from people concerned about and wanting to help the vulnerable and self-isolating. This is incredible and necessary. However, we know that there are also those trying to take advantage of the situation, and that precautions need to be taken to prevent further spread of the virus. SVCO states that a "It is important to remain calm and not rush to immediate action, as we are aware that from previous international emergencies, the positive desire of individuals and groups to help can often have unintended consequences and result in negative longer-term impacts." Please ensure you and the people you work with are aware of the best practices as advised by trusted sources.
ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL

• If you are concerned about the well-being of anyone, you can contact the Caring for People Helpline at 01546 605524, from 9am to 5pm, Mon-Fri, or by using this online form.  For British Sign Language access, use this link: https://contactscotland-bsl.org/24-7-365/. 
  • This helpline should be used for all service-users that need additional support. It has been set up to make sure that no one slips through the cracks, and that issues are escalated as needed. For more information on the helpline, go here.
  • Note that this is for non-medical support only. For medical support, please refer to NHS Scotland: https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus
• Argyll & Bute Council have a "Help for Communities" section on its website in response to COVID-19: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/coronavirus/help-for-communities​​
• Argyll & Bute Community Support Guide from the Council is aimed at supporting community groups, organisations and local people who are volunteering to provide support to the vulnerable and the elderly. It provides good protocols for everything from delivering groceries to (not) handling cash: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/coronavirus/help-for-communities#guidance
• The Argyll & Bute Council has some information about transport and travel here: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/coronavirus/transport
• The Oban Times is still operating and welcomes information on how individuals and organisations are handling the situation. You can reach out to Susan in editoral at editor@obantimes.co.uk. They have also improved their website access as so many are now unable to obtain paper copies: https://www.obantimes.co.uk/#null

SCOTLAND

• There is a new website and helpline to address the COVID-19 outbreak for Scottish Citizens. The helpline can be reached at 0808 800 9060 between 9am and 5pm on Mondays to Friday, and via live webchat or email at https://coronavirusadvice.scot/

• SVCO has launched a directory of organisations offering non-medical support here: https://covid-19.scvo.org.uk/help/for-organisations
• NHS Scotland has published this information and guidance for social or community care and residential settings: https://hpspubsrepo.blob.core.windows.net/hps-website/nss/2980/documents/1_covid-19-guidance-for-social-or-community-care-and-residential-settings.pdf
• The Scottish Government has published clinical guidance for nursing home and residential care residents, which can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-clinical-guidance-for-nursing-home-and-residential-care-residents/
• The Scottish Government is also offering guidance for the management of clients accessing care at home, housing support and sheltered housing here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-clinical-guidance-care-at-home-housing-support-and-sheltered-housing/
• Home Energy Scotland is offering advice to vulnerable people and people now working from home who are concerned about their heating. They can be reached by phone at 0808 808 2282. More info can also be found here: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/home-energy-scotland/news/top-tips-saving-energy-when-you%E2%80%99re-stuck-home

VULNERABLE GROUPS
As we know, some groups are more vulnerable to serious complications from COVID-19 than others. This includes those with diabetes, heart conditions, respiratory issues, cancer patients and survivors, people over 70, and anyone who is immuno-compromised.

• From Diabetes UK: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus; there is also a Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/DiabetesScot
• From Macmillan, regarding cancer patients and survivors: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/coronavirus/cancer-and-coronavirus 
• From the British Heart Foundation: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health
• From the British Lung Foundation for those with respiratory issues: https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus
• From Age Scotland: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/information-advice/health-and-wellbeing/coronavirus/

MENTAL HEALTH & DOMESTIC ABUSE:

• We also know that the anxiety caused by this illness, as well as economic uncertainties and the potentially isolating effects of self-isolating can increase the need for mental health support. SAMH has resources here: https://www.samh.org.uk/about-mental-health/self-help-and-wellbeing/coronavirus-and-your-mental-wellbeing
• Breathing Space has information mental health and helplines here: https://www.breathingspace.scot/news/2020/staying-connected-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/
• Acumen also has posted mental health resources: https://mailchi.mp/e0bfb8d68600/covid-19-update?fbclid=IwAR3XwFE0lM1NKWlBGuGnA2KsBzWSeMeDv18I4wHwKY_ix15-mfZioJ2n_Lo
• Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline remains fully operational during the coronavirus pandemic. Call 24/7 on 0800 027 1234, or email and web chat from www.sdafmh.org.uk​
• The NHS has a list of mental health resources here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/?fbclid=IwAR3Z84HorT7SFQOs14KvDUQnzBvyubFnr6b4wQkajkP89WyKlW8vsDRaQkg
• OCD-UK has compiled resources for dealing with added anxieties emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic here: https://www.ocduk.org/ocd-and-coronavirus-resources/

 
ADDICTION & SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND ABUSE:

• We Are With You (formerly Addaction) has listed resources for addiction and mental health issues: https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/help-and-advice/coronavirus-covid-19/
• Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (SFAD) has a helpline; info is here: https://www.sfad.org.uk/
• Breaking Free Online is an online treatment and recovery programme that allows people to resolve the psychological and lifestyle issues that drive their use of substances. The service is currently available free of charge to people in addiction recovery. Anyone who uses the code below to create a Breaking Free Online account before midnight on April 30th will then be able to access the programme for up to a year. Visit www.breakingfreeonline.com; Click SIGN UP. Use sdf2020 to complete the required fields.

VOLUNTEERS:

• The Argyll & Bute Council has a Community Support Guide posted here: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/coronavirus/help-for-communities#guidance
• Volunteer Scotland has advice for volunteers here: https://www.volunteerscotland.net/about-us/news-blog/news/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-volunteers/
• Ready Scotland has information here: https://www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus/
• The Coronavirus emergency bill states that there will be relaxations to certain requirements under the PVG legislation. Note that there are several support activities that do not require a PVG check such as shopping, cash handling, having access to people's details and dog walking. Each organisation has to risk assess these activities and consider whether there is a need for any further safeguarding such as supervising new volunteers more closely. More info from Volunteer Scotland is here: https://www.volunteerscotland.net/for-organisations/disclosure-services/pvg-and-coronavirus-covid-19/
• SVCO has launched a "Coronavirus Community Assistance Directory" to help find or give support in your community: https://covid-19.scvo.org.uk/
• Volunteer Scotland has a blog post that addresses the informal volunteer efforts that are popping up, which includes a cautioning note: "It's critical that we ensure at all times that both volunteers and those they help are safeguarded. When we throw social distancing (and a lack of face-to-face contact) in to the mix there are clear opportunities for scammers and others, seeking to exploit this situation." The page is here: https://www.volunteerscotland.net/about-us/news-blog/our-blog/volunteering-in-a-time-of-coronavirus/ 
• The Association for British Insurers (ABI) has extensive information relating to insurance and COVID-19 here: https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/coronavirus-hub/

​THIRD SECTOR STAFF:​

• ACOSVO has created a private LinkedIn members group to share ideas, concerns, ask for help and provide advice. It can be found here: https:/www.linkedin.com/groups/2723334//
• ACOSVO is focused on supporting CEOs and Senior leaders for the voluntary sector during this time of crisis. More info is here: https://www.acosvo.org.uk/coronavirus-covid19
• ACAS has information about protecting your employees and workplace here: https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus
• Social Investment Scotland has a series of webinars they are offering to help third sector organisations with the challenges they are currently facing: https://www.socialinvestmentscotland.com/support/sis-briefings-covid-19-support-for-the-third-sector/
• Furloughed employees may be covered under the UK Government’s ‘Employees Furlough’ funding, which delivers 80% of wage costs for employees unable to work during this period: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
• Employers may be able to claim for employees' wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

WORKING FROM HOME & DIGITAL TOOLS:

• As in-person restrictions increase, many are looking for digital ways to deliver services and keep in touch with service users. SCVO has information on digital delivery tools here: https://scvo.org.uk/support/coronavirus/new-service-delivery-models
• InspirAlba has compiled FAQs about video-conferencing here: http://www.inspiralba.org.uk/guidance-for-digital-networking
• SVCO is also offering advice for remote working here: https://scvo.org.uk/support/coronavirus/remote-working
• Argyll & Bute Council's FAQs about the coronavirus includes information about video conferencing platforms and how to work digitally and safely: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/help-communities-faqs
• Let's Get Online.Scot's website is hosted by Digital Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government. It offers online (not downloadable) learning resources for complete beginners. http://letsgetonline.scot/learning-hub/
• Learn My Way is a website of free online courses for beginners: https://www.learnmyway.com/
• Digital Unite is a website providing digital advice to individuals and organisations. They have a special COVID-19 Guides and Resources section, covering a whole range of digital topics: https://www.digitalunite.com/news-reviews/covid-19-guides-resources
• Media Mentor is offering online remote training here: http://www.media-mentor.co.uk/courses/on-line-remote-training/
• SVCO reports: We've already received reports of open meetings being targeted by hackers. Find out more here about 'zoombombing'. There has also been a huge increase in online scams, with charities one of the groups seen as must vulnerable by hackers. Trading Standards Scotland has a weekly bulletin which shares details of the latest scams that have been reported.
• SVCO is maintaining a calendar of events in support of the third sector that have moved online here: ​https://scvo.org/support/coronavirus/guidance