COMMUNITIES groups and small businesses have been rallying round to put put the needs and wellbeing of vulnerable elderly people at the forefront of their activities.

Scotland has 676,000 pensioners over the age of 70 who may be forced to isolate themselves for months.

In North Lanarkshire one community group has been asking for food donations which will be distributed to elderly people.

The Newmains Community Trust (NCT) centre is asking for donations of non-perishable items to create care packages which can be delivered to vulnerable people in the local community.

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Manager Jane Wood said the centre is often a meeting place for vulnerable people, including many elderly members of the community, who may either choose or be forced to isolate themselves as the outbreak progresses.

She said: “With us being a community centre, we’ve got quite a lot of vulnerable people who are in and out of the centre regularly and we know that as time goes on, more and more of them will be staying at home more.

“So we’ve decided to ask for donations from the local community so that we can put together care packages. People can then get in touch if they need one, or if they know of someone who needs one, and we will either deliver it or arrange for collection at the centre.

“If we have any donations left over, then we’re in touch with a local foodbank and will pass items on to them. We just really want to help out anyone in need in our local community.”

Practical help during this period is also being offered. A dog walking business in Renfrewshire has offered to walk dogs for elderly people who are unable to get out.

Michael McGinty, who runs Dargavel Dog Walking in Bishopton, Renfrewshire, said: “I know how difficult it can be for some people with dogs to get out and it is only going to get worse. Dogs still need to be walked and socialise and this is one way I can help. I hope more small business owners think about how they can help. Even if they are just helping one elderly person then it is worth it. These are unusual circumstances but I know people in our village will pull together."

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has reviewed the community services they offer in particular home fire safety visits.

Deputy Chief Officer Ross Haggart said: “We have taken steps to equip all staff with the appropriate knowledge to protect themselves and prevent spread of infection in line with the guidance issued by NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government.

“This includes taking the decision to target our home fire safety visit activity at those most at risk from fire, and suspending our attendance at external community safety events.

“We also have robust contingency plans in place should we encounter a high number of absences to ensure we continue to respond to every emergency and protect the communities of Scotland."

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Glasgow’s Golden Generation, a charity for the city’s elderly, closed their three day care centres yesterday due to the spread of the virus, however its staff will continue working to support people. This work will now include a campaign calling for donations from members of the public to be delivered to older people as part of a care package.

Staff will also be telephoning elderly people to check they are okay and update them with the latest news on COVID-19.

Richard Donald, assistant director of the charity, said: “Unfortunately we’ve had to close our centres, but we’ve been working on a plan to try to take the service we provide to people’s doors rather than them coming to us.

“We’re launching a social media campaign today calling for people to donate certain items and hand them into out centres. This includes non-perishables, cans, bottles and things like toiletries. These items can then be delivered to those in need.

“Our staff also have a database of people who use our centres and they will be calling them on a daily basis to make sure they are okay and keep them up to date with what’s going on. We want to do as much as we can to support people through this.”

Anyone looking for information on what donations are needed and where they should be taken should visit www.glasgowgg.org.uk.

Any donations can be dropped off at any of our day care centres:

David Cargill Centre, 166 Ledard Road, Battlefield, Glasgow, G42 9RA

Fred Paton Centre, 19 Carrington Street, Woodlands, Glasgow, G4 9AJ

Mattie Carwood Centre, 2 Hallhill Road, Shettleston, Glasgow, G32 0LL

*Set times for donations: Monday - Friday between: 9am - 4pm.*

Please note: donations must be delivered to the centres only and, for now, collections by our staff cannot be made from any location.

Any questions, please feel free to call us on 0141 221 9924.

In Edinburgh a cornershop has spent more than £5,000 on giving away toilet roll, antibacterial handwash and paracetamol to OAPs - in a Coronavirus ‘pack’.

Customers over the age of 65 and those with mobility issues facing self-isolation can pick up the free goods at Day-Today convenience store at Drylaw, Edinburgh.

The packs include one toilet roll, an anti-bacterial handwash, a packet of pocket tissues and one packet of paracetamol.

Owner Zahid Iqbal, 34, has already given away more than 1,000 of the kits and said he wants to ‘set a good example’ as shop shelves have been left bare by panic buying.

Elsewhere, a cycling social enterprise in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, is offering NHS and social care staff free bike hire to help them avoid public transport.

Socialtrack is offering workers who use buses and trains “free and healthy transport” during the outbreak if they get in touch and provide their season pass and some ID.

The enterprise is also offering health care staff who cycle to work a free service on their bike if they provide their work ID.

Dan Scott, Socialtrack director, said: “We wanted to do something to help. If people get in touch via email, we’ll deliver a bike to them so that it minimises the risk of infection. All the bikes will be cleaned before delivery."

In Glasgow an army of community-based volunteers are being prepared to help reach elderly people if they are in isolation and already more than 60 people have offered their services.

Councillors Michael Cullen, SNP, and Eva Murray, Labour, along with Youth Parliament member Ross McArthur are organising a network of community volunteers to help vulnerable people if they are placed in isolation in their ward of Garscadden/Scotstounhill and Yoker.

Volunteers will help run errands such as fetching groceries or prescriptions, or just provide some social contact so people don’t feel alone.

Councillor Cullen said: “We had people saying that they’d like to help out and do something, so we’re organising a way we can pull together and direct resources where they are needed.

“This could be anything from buying groceries to just having a chat and letting them know they are not alone.”