More than 1,000 calls have already been received by the Emergency Support Helpline since it was launched by Cumbria County Council just over a week ago.
Around 200 calls a day have been taken from ‘high risk’ vulnerable or isolated people in need of urgent help, who aren’t able to rely on neighbours, friends or family members, and may be struggling for food, medicines or other essential supplies.
The requests for help are matched with local support which is being offered by a network of community groups, volunteers, redeployed council employees, and local businesses.
To contact the Emergency Support Helpline:
- Phone – 0800 783 1966.
- Online – COVID-19 online support form
- Email a request for help to [email protected]
The telephone call centre operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and 10am to 2pm at weekends. The service also accepts referrals from members of the public who may be concerned about people in their community.
Over the Easter bank holiday weekend, from Friday 10th April to Monday 13th April, the service will operate between 10am and 2pm.
The county council will continue to work alongside voluntary and community groups, providing advice and guidance, and as a broker to ensure they are able to take up offers of help from local businesses, make connections with food providers or support with grant applications.
Additional efforts are also underway to make sure isolated people, and those who may be ‘offline’, are hearing about the service. The council will be writing to residents in the NHS ‘shielding’ category, and those who are classed as extremely vulnerable, to make them aware of the helpline service. This will be supported with an SMS (text message) and a mass leaflet drop across local communities.
Members of the public, volunteers and local businesses can help spread the word and download a pack of useful resources to print and share at www.cumbria.gov.uk/coronavirus
