Tag: Scotland Cares

First Minister thanks pandemic volunteers

Celebration of community helpers

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has recorded a video message thanking the tens of thousands of volunteers who have helped Scotland’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

The clip – filmed as part of this year’s Volunteers Week – celebrates those who continued to carry out voluntary work in the initial stages of the pandemic and more than 60,000 people who signed up to the Scotland Cares campaign.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1268467530915631108

Just one of the many thousands of volunteers is grandfather Neil Aitkenhead, 62, a delivery driver with Start Up Stirling, which helps people who need basic essentials.

Neil said: “My experience has been so enriching. People from all backgrounds volunteer; some who have been having a hard time in their personal life, others who have been laid off and many people like me who are retired and just love the companionship.

“The best part about being a delivery driver is that you’re encountering the people who really need your help and the people receiving the food deliveries are always delighted to see you. It is really eye opening to see the variety of people who rely on foodbanks. There are people from all parts of society who need our help.

“I think the volume of people volunteering in Scotland is just what you’d expect from Scots. It’s no surprise that in times of crisis people really do come together.

“I would encourage anyone to start volunteering. It’s really satisfying and great for your mental health.”

Adding her thanks, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “Over the last few months, volunteers have been organising shopping, delivering food packages, dropping off medicines and helping support lonely neighbours with phone calls.

“On top of the thousands already giving their time and skill before the pandemic began, an extra 63,000 signed up through our Scotland Cares project.

“Like Neil, these volunteers are making a massive contribution. As we begin to ease some of the restrictions in place because of the virus, our volunteers will be at the heart of helping to build our communities back up again.”

Neil’s Story:

Neil Aitkenhead, 62, lives in Thornhill, Stirlingshire, and started volunteering on 20 March with Start Up Stirling,  which helps people experiencing hardship.

Neil said: “I’m now living on my own since my wife, who has advanced Alzheimer’s, has moved into full-time care and is in hospital.

“After I was no longer her sole carer I felt like I had got my life back in some shape or form and  I wanted to give back to the community. My neighbour actually let me know that Start Up Stirling urgently needed more drivers.

“I volunteer at two sessions a week. I first started out as a driver but, when lockdown began, a few of us started shadowing the team leader, in case anything happened to him during the pandemic. On Tuesdays I shadow the team leader and on Thursdays I head to the depot, roll up my sleeves and do anything that needs doing.

“From making up delivery packs for the vans, pulling fresh fruit and vegetable deliveries together and receiving incoming deliveries from supermarkets and donors. I’ll be driving again soon but volunteers generally just help wherever they can at Start Up Stirling.

“My experience at Start Up Stirling has been so enriching. There are people from all backgrounds who volunteer; some people who have been having a hard time in their personal life, others who have been laid off from their businesses and many people like me who are retired and just love the companionship.

“I think everyone has had a time in their lives when they’ve been down on their luck and they’ve needed to reach out to people for help. I’ve had plenty of support from many organisations with my wife so I really want to give back to the community.

“The best part about being a delivery driver is that you’re encountering the people who really need your help. You’re essentially the public face of Start Up Stirling and the people receiving the food deliveries are always delighted to see you. It is really eye opening to see the variety of people who rely on foodbanks. There are people from all parts of society who need our help.

“I think the volume of people volunteering in Scotland is just what you’d expect from Scots. It’s no surprise that in times of crisis people really do come together. I’ve been overwhelmed with how nice the people at Start Up Stirling are.

“I would encourage anyone to start volunteering – I think you really get a glow from having helped someone with no expectation of a reward. It’s really satisfying and great for your mental health.”

There are volunteering opportunities available across the capital. Volunteer Edinburgh is currently running a ‘Think Local, Act Local‘ initiative. Scores of local organisations could use your help – get in touch!

Edinburgh MSP Gordon Macdonald has paid tribute to volunteers who have helped the NHS and local communities during Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June).

Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the contribution and work of millions of volunteers who give up their time to help others.

During this pandemic, volunteers have signed up to help in record numbers through the Scotland Cares initiative – over 53,000 in one month – joining the thousands of people who were already helping, either with one of Scotland’s many voluntary and community sector groups or informally with neighbours.

MSP Gordon Macdonald said: “Volunteers’ Week gives us a chance to celebrate the contributions of volunteers who have made such a huge difference to their local areas. 

“Many people in Edinburgh have taken on Covid-19 related volunteering roles to help communities deal with the many consequences of the coronavirus, and it’s more important than ever to show our appreciation for their hard work.

“I want to say a massive thank you to all of the volunteers who have helped the NHS and their local communities during the Covid-19 pandemic, and continue to do so.

“Volunteers will be critical in our efforts to support and rebuild our communities, and I am sure I speak for everyone in Edinburgh when I say we are all appreciative and grateful to those who are ensuring people across the country get the help and support they need.”

 

 

Pause as Scotland Cares volunteer sign ups pass 76,000

Registrations to volunteer and help communities and public services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have reached more than 76,000 in Scotland.

This figure only counts those involved in the Scottish Government’s own Scotland Cares initiative – many thousands more are helping out in their neighbourhoods and volunteering in local community schemes across the country.

Local induction programmes are underway to ensure volunteers are ready for deployment and many have already started to deliver food parcels, ensure essential supplies and medicines reach vulnerable people and phone those who need assistance or companionship.

Within health and social care, offers of employment are being made across NHS Scotland with nearly 700 applicants ready to be deployed and more than 3,600 returners in the process of completing their pre-employment checks.

Recruitment for the Scotland Cares Campaign, which launched one month ago, will now be paused as it enters its next phase.

This includes temporarily pausing recruitment through the health and social care strand. The campaign has resulted in:

  • 35,077 sign-ups to Volunteer Scotland to support charities and community groups
  • 18,640  sign-ups to the British Red Cross to support public services
  • 23,029 health and social care workers returning to work, and students joining the service

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “The Scotland Cares Campaign has been massively successful with more than 76,000 new sign-ups offering their support in the month since it opened.

“In addition to the thousands of amazing volunteers who were already giving their time and energy to help their communities, I want to thank each and every person who has signed up. I am sure I speak for everyone across Scotland when I say we are appreciative and grateful for this public spiritedness which will ensure people across the country get the help and support they need.

“The response from the public has been so tremendous that we are now pausing our recruitment. Not all volunteers who have signed up will be needed immediately, but I’d like to stress that volunteers will be critical in our efforts to support and rebuild our communities and many of those who have not yet been called on to help will play a vital role over the weeks and months to come.”

Emma Morrow signed up to the British Red Cross as a volunteer when Scotland Cares launched last month and has been deployed as a Community Reserve Volunteer to package food for vulnerable people in Glasgow.

Emma said: “It’s great to see everybody pulling together. It’s really fulfilling to know that by doing a few hours work I am going to help somebody that can’t get out the front door.”

Rosemary Lowne is volunteering in West Dunbartonshire as a telephone befriender, calling elderly people in the community every week.

Rosemary said:

“I absolutely love my role as a befriender. My callers say that our weekly chats really lift their spirits and reassures them that there are people looking out for them. I strongly believe that now more than ever ‘it’s good to talk’ and to let people know that they are not alone. The feedback I’ve received has been wonderful.”

Robert Colburn, Emergency Response Operations Manager for British Red Cross, said: “With our added capacity we are looking forward to finding new opportunities for our regular and community reserve volunteers to help the most vulnerable in the days, weeks and months ahead.

“Every single person who signed up with us is joining a force of thousands ready to help in their local community now and in the future, whenever crisis strikes.”

CEO of Volunteer Scotland George Thomson said: “A pause in recruitment is the correct action just now as we move to connect the wonderful offers of support from so many citizens from all our communities to meet local needs.

“Beyond the lockdown we will have a massive recovery challenge ahead, and we aim to engage this incredible first wave of volunteers before seeking others in future.”

Thousands come forward to help NHS Scotland in COVID-19 emergency

More than 22,000 students and returning health and social care workers have come forward to support the NHS in its response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The figure includes nearly 7,000 students in nursing and midwifery, medicine and the allied health professions and scientific disciplines. In addition there are almost 3,000 former social care workers, professionals and experienced healthcare workers returning from career breaks and retirement and individuals joining the NHS from the independent sector.

Applicants are being held on a list, with Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) and Disclosure checks being fast-tracked to allow new recruits to take up posts as soon as possible.

Offers of employment are being made across NHS Scotland with more than 160 applicants ready to be deployed and more than 3,600 returners in the process of completing their pre-employment checks.

The Scottish Social Services Council is taking forward applications and pre-employment checks for the social care workforce, with 140 individuals now matched into roles and a further 225 ready and available for deployment.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I thank the thousands of students and retired health and social care workers who have answered our calls for support, and put themselves forward to help the NHS response to COVID-19. 

“This has been an outstanding response and we are working with NHS Education for Scotland and our boards to ensure returners and students are deployed as quickly and effectively as possible.

“While increasing capacity in our NHS is essential we must also do it safely which is why the processes, induction and training must be carefully followed and I thank those who have registered for their patience as we urgently work through these details.

“The steps we are taking now are about targeting and prioritising our workforce where it is most needed which means adapting our staffing plans as we move through the different stages of this pandemic.

“While not all of those who have applied to help will be needed immediately, the offers are very much appreciated, and this is giving us the scope to be as flexible as we can, so we can make the best use of the different talents which our students and returning NHS and social care staff are offering.”

The NHS recruitment drive is part of the Scotland Cares campaign which is also looking at formal volunteering to support public services and other charities and groups in the local community.

Of the 22,611 who have so far come forward (as at 26 April 2020), 3028 have registered with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 1700 with NHS Lothian and 17,883 through the dedicated NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Accelerated Recruitment Portal.

Data from the 17,883* applicants processed through the NES Accelerated Recruitment Portal is broken down as follows:    

  • 3053 Nurses (17%)
  • 1512 Doctors (9%)
  • 307 Physiotherapists (2%)
  • 366 Biomedical Scientists (2%)
  • 190 Occupational Therapists (1%)
  • 221 Midwives (1%)
  • 82 Paramedics (<1%)
  • 2547 Care professionals (15%)

6904 NHSS Students (39%)

  • 5440 Nursing Students (31%)
  • 662 Medical Students (4%)**
  • 405 Midwifery Students (2%)
  • 106 AHP Student Final Year (1%)
  • 291 Other Student  (2%)

*The breakdown above does not add up to the total as while it includes a selection of identified roles, it does not include other roles such as drivers, speech and language therapists and podiatrists among others.

**Final year medical students who have graduated and received provisional registration are able to express interest in a FiY1 (foundation interim year 1) post or Healthcare Support Worker role. Medical students who are not in their final year can express interest in a Healthcare Support Worker role only.

All applications are now received via the NES Recruitment portal. People can register here.  

Scotland Cares: tens of thousands sign up to volunteer

More than 23,000 people have signed up to volunteer during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic through the new ‘Scotland Cares’ campaign. This number is in addition to the thousands who are already delivering vital support to vulnerable people in their local communities.

The volunteers offered their support through the Ready Scotland website which launched this morning. Over 8,000 people have offered to support local public services through the Red Cross and over 11,000 more through working with existing charities and groups via Volunteer Scotland.

Another 2,000 people have used the recruitment portal – also accessible through Ready Scotland – to indicate that they have the relevant skills and qualifications to work in our NHS. This takes the total numbers of students and retired health and social care workers who have expressed an interest to nearly 6,000.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I want to thank each and every person who has registered an interest in the Scotland Cares campaign – the offer of support at this critical time is invaluable. As well as enabling medical students and former health staff to help the NHS, it also encourages people to help their communities across Scotland.

“The response we have had to this call for applications is indicative I think of a wider point – many people across Scotland are responding to this difficult period by showing a sense of community and solidarity.”

Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People Shirley-Anne Somerville said last night: “The response to the Scotland Cares campaign, which has recorded over 21,000 new volunteers in just one day, has been tremendous.

“This is in addition to the thousands of student and retired health and social care workers who have expressed an interest in or applied for posts to help support the NHS during the coronavirus outbreak.

“Thank you to everyone who has already registered to volunteer or who have signed up to support our NHS. Your support at this critical time is invaluable.”

Volunteers who want to support their communities should visit www.ReadyScotland.org to find out how they can help.