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Busy first week for Highland Council dedicated helpline


By Alan Hendry

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Highland Council chief executive Donna Manson testing the helpline service.
Highland Council chief executive Donna Manson testing the helpline service.

Staff on Highland Council’s dedicated helpline have dealt with more than 1600 calls since the service went live last Wednesday.

The helpline has been set up to give assistance and to collect details of individuals and community groups looking to provide volunteering support.

In the first seven days the majority of callers have been seeking support for businesses, along with providing offers to volunteer. Already more than 240 groups have offered assistance.

The single line helpline – 0300 303 1362 – is open between 8am and 6pm and is staffed by volunteers from Eden Court and the local authority.

As well as directly assisting callers, the staff – who are all home-based – are signposting people to other organisations that can provide help and assistance too. All calls are free.

The council is encouraging people to also continue to use its online forms to make payments, report problems and request a service. There are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from www.highland.gov.uk

A council spokesman said: “The statistics for the first week show how busy our staff are. This is a helpline for customers requiring or offering support during the coronavirus situation.

"If anyone has a query relating to other urgent council business, they should contact our service centre on 01349 886602 or continue to use online forms and resources as much as possible to ensure those most in need of assistance can be supported.”

If anyone receives a "shielding" letter from NHS requiring them to self-isolate for 12 weeks and they require support, they should contact the council’s dedicated shielding helpline at 01349 886669. If they require food support, they should call the number provided in their letter.

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone is among those who have signed up with the council to provide volunteering support during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Stone said: “For my part, I will happily pick up and drop off people’s shopping and prescriptions. I like driving and in any case, I will get to sing along to the radio on the way.

“I know that the Highlands is not the easiest place to get about in and that a lot of vulnerable people are stranded. I am happy to do my bit and implore anyone who can also lend a helping hand to do the same."

Meanwhile, Highland Council says it is working hard to release business grants to eligible local businesses as quickly as possible.

The authority has received more than 2000 applications since the scheme was introduced last week and has set up systems to process these applications quickly while ensuring the necessary information is received.

A first batch of grant payments, totalling around £185,000, will be with businesses by Friday with further payments next week.

Any businesses that might be eligible for the small business grant or retail, hospitality and leisure grant should go to the council’s website for further information and see "Updates for businesses".


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