Communities, charities and volunteering during coronavirus

Last updated: Friday 15 January 2021

Communities, charities and volunteering during coronavirus

How you can take care of yourself and others, volunteering, local community groups, funding for community groups, additional support.

With national and local partners, we would like to thank everyone who has signed up to volunteer and who are volunteering to support people at this time in neighbourhoods across Renfrewshire.

Volunteers are playing a key role in helping support people through this pandemic and will continue to play a critical role as communities begin to reconnect, renew and recover in the months ahead. If you feel you can still help, the Engage Renfrewshire COVID 19 Volunteer Reserve Bank is still open.

On this page:

Taking care of ourselves and others

We know that many of you are ready and willing to support those who are experiencing hardship. There has been a tremendous outpouring of kindness from groups and individuals across Renfrewshire.

But it's important that you only help if you are well.

To make sure you're up-to-date with the latest health advice, check here: NHS Inform website - Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Volunteering

Covid-19 Renfrewshire Volunteer Reserve

Volunteer roles emerging in Renfrewshire include:

Food support
Prescription delivery
Care support
Online / telephone support
Administrative support

Apply to join the new Volunteer Reserve and you could be helping out in one of these roles when safe to do so.

British Red Cross

You can also help health and public services by volunteering to join the British Red Cross as a Community Reserve Volunteer.

You can sign up here: British Red Cross website.

NHS Careers

Many health and social care workers across Scotland are volunteering to return to work and help tackle this crisis.

You can join them by registering your interest here: NHS Careers Covid-19 Recruitment.

Volunteering safely

Before offering your support, please make sure it is safe for you to do so.

Ready Scotland has some great safety guidance and planning tools:

If you are involved in a local community group, we would encourage you look at our Information for Emerging Local Groups (see Related Documents or use the link below). This has the latest guidance from Engage Renfrewshire on how you can safely and responsibly carry out your support duties.

Covid-19 Information for Emerging Local Groups [91KB]

Please check the NHS Inform website for the latest guidance on infection control.

Local community groups

Renfrewshire-wide

Name of Group	Support available	Contact
Renfrewshire Council COVID-19 Response Team	Helpline to provide essential assistance, such as collecting food and medicine, to those who do not have a network of support, but who may be at increased risk if they contract coronavirus (COVID-19)	Local assistance line 0300 300 0230 National helpline 0800 111 4000
Carers Centre	Support for carers	0141 887 3643
The Community Fridge and Community Cabinet Paisley	Care packs of food, access to fresh, healthy foods and a delivery service to homes in hardship during the lockdown	07843 702003 or contact Rekz on Facebook
Food Train	Shopping service for people over 65. Orders placed on a Monday and shopping delivered as soon as possible that week. Cost is £5 per delivery.	0141 887 2557 or renfrewshire@thefoodtrain.co.uk
Recovery Across Mental Health (RAMH)	Support with mental health	0141 847 8900 or contact on Facebook
Renfrewshire Foodbank	Provision of 3 days emergency supply of nutritionally balanced food for families and individuals throughout Renfrewshire. The foodbank distributes in Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew.	0300 102 2500 or info@renfrewshire.foodbank.org.uk
ROAR - Connections for Life	Shopping, medicine collection & wellbeing phone calls - by assessment	0141 889 7481 or email ROAR
STAR Project	As requested	Email Star Project / Heather or call 0141 889 5850

Paisley

Name of Group	Support available	Contact
Ferguslie Group	As requested	073099862681 or Ferguslie Group
Glenburn Cares	As requested	Join the Facebook group
Gockston and Shortroods Community Assistance		Join the Facebook group or call Alice McBride (Engage Renfrewshire) on 07903 431772
Mossvale Community Church	Shopping, wellbeing phone calls, pastoral support	07860 015454 or email info@mossvalecommunitychurch.co.uk

Renfrew

Name of Group	Support available	Contact
Our Place, Our Families	As requested	Our Place Our Families or 0141 258 5206

Johnstone and Elderslie

Name of Group	Support available	Contact
Corseford Tenants & Residents Association	Provision of emergency essentials; collect prescriptions / power top-ups; shopping service for vulnerable residents on Mondays & Thursdays.	Call 07960 918424 or email johnstonecovidhelp@hotmail.com
Elderslie Cares	As requested	Join the Facebook group
Spateston Tenants & Residents Association	Shopping, prescription collection and other emergency essential services to local residents	Email community.spaces@outlook.com

Erskine, Bishopton, Langbank & Inchinnan

Name of Group	Support available	Contact
EBI Unites	Assistance to those experiencing Food or Fuel insecurity packages	Contact Details: Jacqui Reid 07799 123002 Facebook Uniting EBI Twitter EBI unites Erskine's Community Website
Looking After Our Neighbours in Bishopton	Support network	Join the Facebook group
Langbank Volunteer Support	As requested	Call the Support Group Co-ordinator on 07776 238013 or the Community Council Secretary on 07552 965317

Linwood, Houston, Brookfield, Bridge of Weir

Name of Group	Support available	Contact
Bridge of Weir Coronavirus Community Assistance Group	Online community	Facebook Group
Houston Volunteers	Shopping (including online shopping), prescription pick-up or a friendly chat	Email Rev. Gary Noonan or Frankie Greenwood at Houston Kirk

Kilbarchan, Howwood & Lochwinnoch

Name of Group

Support available

Contact

Howwood Emergency Amateur Response Team (HEART)

As requested

Online contact form
01505 887377

Lochwinnoch Cares

Shopping service, prescription pick-up and telephone calls to prevent isolation

Lochwinnoch Cares or 07395 959055

Join the Facebook Group

Get in touch with us

Please use the Renfrewshire Community Planning digital channels to tell us, and each other, what you are doing to support your local community over the coming weeks and months.

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Funds to help third sector organisations and community groups

You can find out more about funding for Scottish charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises by visiting our Support for business page.

Where to find additional support

The following organisations and tools might be helpful:

Renfrewshire Council

Communities, charities and volunteering during coronavirus

Taking care of ourselves and others