The community response to the coronavirus crisis across South Lanarkshire has been hailed as “literally a lifesaver”, with hundreds of food packages and prescription medicines already delivered to people who are self-isolating and unable to get help from others.

Co-ordinating the effort has been done by council staff who have taken 3,747 calls on a special helpline.

The freephone number was set up specifically for people who were not already being offered assistance through the Scottish Government’s ‘Shielding’ exercise for people with specific health issues and needs.

Council Leader John Ross said the council had taken a lead in both the Shielding and Wellbeing schemes, but stressed that the help could only be delivered with the assistance of others.

He said: “If there can be a silver lining to something as awful as coronavirus, it is the magnificent response of so many people in our communities who have reached out to help others.

“The council could never have done all this on its own, and I really want to pay tribute to the community groups who rallied to the cause. To every single volunteer who stepped up I want to say – you are literally a lifesaver.”

By the start of this week a total of 780 food packages had been delivered through the scheme.  Delivery of another 371 prescription medicines had been arranged, and another 2,596 types of assistance had been provided.

One of the groups which has been involved is Larkhall Community Growers, whose Nancy Barr said: “It's amazing how quickly our local communities and our council have mobilised to support our most vulnerable people in this time of crisis. Together, we are building a safety net to help soften the blow in these unprecedented times.”

More than 670 volunteers have come forward to help and been issued with accreditation letters. The council’s Community Engagement Team has worked in partnership with Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire to support local networks, including:

In East Kilbride participating groups include EK Community Foodbank, Share Alike, Moncrieff Parish Church and Older and Active, with the EK Connected COVID group working to map support networks.

In the Hamilton area, the response has included Hamilton Warriors, Blantyre Official Coronavirus Support Group, Bothwell and Uddingston Community Forum and Action Group and the COVID-19 Rainbows – Larkhall.

In Clydesdale, local villages and communities have been particularly active and adept at responding in rural locations. Just one example is the newly-launched Lanark Helps initiative which is a partnership of local organisations.

In Rutherglen and Cambuslang, many individuals, groups, organisations and agencies have mobilised and are working together. This has led to development of the Camglen Covid group to co-ordinate local responses. This has included Fire and Rescue Scotland playing an invaluable role in ensuring that local people are receiving their prescriptions.

Over the whole of South Lanarkshire, too, there have been magnificent donations and support from members of the general public and local businesses, including large supermarket chains.

Thanks to the separate Shielding exercise, another 7,700 South Lanarkshire residents have been contacted and offered help, with delivery arranged for another 2,800 food packages and 2,500 prescription medicines.

The Community Wellbeing helpline is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday on 0303 123 1009.