09 April 2020

Help for communities update

More than 700 people have been offered help, thanks to the new #GrampianAssistanceHub.

The website and free phone line went live in late March and currently 730 people have used it to reach and out and ask for help. Those people have been matched with someone in their community. Requests have ranged from food delivery, support providing medication, pet walking and emotional support.

2,200 individuals or groups have also used the Hub to register that they can give assistance, with many being matched to safely support people in their community.  
 
Headlines:

• For use by anyone in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray
• Can be used to alert when assistance is required
• Can also be used to offer assistance or volunteer support
• Taking calls from a range of residents/businesses, no matter their age or circumstances
• Can also be used to ask for help on someone else's behalf

The website address is www.GCAH.org.uk or free phone 0808 196 3384
(8am-8pm 7 days a week).
 
Amanda Croft is Chief Executive of NHS Grampian and chair of the Grampian Local Resilience Partnership which set up the new Assistance Hub.

She said: “These figures show that the site and the phone line are helping meet a real need. Ultimately, that is more than 700 people who had nowhere to turn and were worried about the future, and this phone number and site has given them a way to get that help.

“We want businesses to use the site to let us know if they are providing services, volunteers to use the site and tell us if they can help, and for anyone who needs help to reach out.”