AN East Renfrewshire charity has set up a community hub to co-ordinate efforts to help the area’s most vulnerable residents.

The new initiative sees Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire (VAER) join forces with East Renfrewshire Council and the area’s Health and Social Care Partnership to act as a ‘one-stop shop’ for those who need support.

People can contact the Barrhead-based hub to volunteer their services and will then be matched with local groups and organisations delivering support to those who don’t have anyone else to turn to.

Ruth Gallagher, VAER’s chief officer, told the Barrhead News: “In the past two weeks, since the hub opened, we have taken around 128 calls from local residents in East Renfrewshire and had offers of support from 123 people looking to volunteer.

“The response from the community has been incredibly positive, with almost every neighbourhood in East Renfrewshire being supported by a local Facebook group, formal organisations or neighbours helping neighbours.

“Our team at The Community Hub have successfully delivered 33 prescriptions to local residents and carried out 27 shopping trips.

“I am incredibly proud of the work of my staff team, volunteers and, of course, the amazing collaborations amongst the third sector, health and social care and East Renfrewshire Council teams.

“East Renfrewshire has most definitely come together as a community that cares.”

To ensure that community hub volunteers can make deliveries to all vulnerable residents who request support, the shopping service is currently limited to only essential items, with a maximum of 12 on each list, and the team will only be making shopping trips on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The hub can be contacted on 0141 876 9555 anytime between 10am and 3pm on Mondays to Fridays. Alternatively, send an email to hello@va-er.org.uk or get in touch through Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire’s Facebook page.

****

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We're not exaggerating when we say the future of local newspapers and the vital service we have provided for many years is under threat.

Please consider supporting the Barrhead News in whatever way you can - by paying just 90p for a copy of the newspaper when you're shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others or by subscribing to our e-edition here.