A SERVICE which offers sound advice to East Renfrewshire residents on a range of subjects is being relaunched.

East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) has joined forces with Voluntary Action East Ren (VAER) to integrate its Talking Points resource hub with a successful community phone line.

Talking Points provides local residents with information and support on anything related to their wellbeing, whether that be mobility, things to do, mental health or finance.

It brings together more than 50 organisations with the aim that, no matter what you need information on, the Talking Points team can either help you directly or get you to the right organisation that can.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Talking Points was active in communities across East Renfrewshire, hosting events where residents could pop in to meet the team.

With this not being possible during lockdown, the team has linked with VAER to incorporate Talking Points as part of the existing Community Hub phone line, which has provided vital support to many in the community throughout the pandemic.

It offers help with shopping, pharmacy collection or even just a friendly chat.

By extending the line to include Talking Points, it will be able to help residents with a much wider range of topics and make it easier for them to find the support they need.

Councillor Caroline Bamforth, chair of the East Renfrewshire Integration Joint Board, said: “Talking Points helped thousands of residents prior to the pandemic and we’re delighted to announce its return and to be doing this in partnership with VAER.

“We created Talking Points as residents told us they often found it hard to find information and resources available in the community or they found it overwhelming.

"By reaching out to Talking Points, you can get the help and information you need.

“Unfortunately, the community drop-ins and targeted events of Talking Points had to stop as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. However, during this time, the Community Hub has been able to build on the amazing collaborative working of the Talking Points partnership.

“We are really excited to restart Talking Points as part of the Community Hub information helpline and are looking forward to building our virtual community support offer, ready for the time we can have a good conversation, not on a screen or at the end of a phone but in person over a coffee and maybe a cake.”

For more details, call the Community Hub on 0141 876 9555 anytime between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday, or send an email to talkingpoints@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk.