Coronavirus helplines and hubs set up across region

Reporter: Niall Griffiths
Date published: 31 March 2020


Coronavirus helplines have been set up by councils across Greater Manchester to support vulnerable people self-isolating.

Community response hubs have also popped up in certain boroughs to help secure food parcels, medicine and fuel top-up payments for those in need.

With demand growing, local authorities are having to redeploy employees to run the new community hubs, while also continuing to deliver key services.

A total of 680 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the city-region, with at least 67 deaths.

Oldham

Action Together will also be working with Oldham council and Oldham Foodbank to coordinate the delivery of emergency food and other essential personal and household basic items to people in need.

A new hotline is now live 0161 770 7007 for people to call for help. The hotline will be open from 9am-5pm on weekdays and 11am to 2pm on weekends.

After calling the helpline, residents can expect a call back from the council within 24 hours and a package in the following days.

The walk-in services in Oldham have changed and a COVID assessment hub has been set up in the ICC. You can access the service by calling 111 or your GP practice.

Rochdale

Four new hubs have been established across Rochdale in a move which will see the council and Link4Life work with partner agencies, volunteers and community groups.

People needing to access support through the community hubs can call 01706 923685. The out of hours contact number is 0300 303 8875.

All staff at the hubs in Rochdale, Littleborough, Heywood and Middleton, will be trained in infection control and practice social distancing while they work.

The council has also said that more hubs could be created in the future if needed.

Tameside

Council call centre staff will be manning an emergency support line on 0161 342 8355 to talk residents through the support available and any necessary arrangements.

Voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in Tameside will be receiving extra support from Action Together.

Manchester

Starting this week, a new council hub will coordinate food parcels, medicine and fuel top-up payments for people with no support network, and those identified as being at high risk of contracting the virus.

The hotline number – which will be open Monday to Saturday, 8.30am to 5.30am – is 0800 234 6123.

Staff from other council departments have been drafted in to man the centre from the town hall extension off Albert Square.

The system has been set up to be flexible, according to the council, working in partnership with public health agencies and the voluntary sector to reach people who most need support.

Salford

Meanwhile across the River Irwell in Salford, vulnerable self-isolating residents can access the Spirit of Salford helpline by calling 0800 952 1000 on weekdays between 8.30am and 6pm.

Anyone looking to donate money and goods, or offer their voluntary services, can do so through Salford’s Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) organisation.

The council has advertised the new service by posting 4,000 leaflets to people aged 75 and over who live alone.

Trafford

As of this week five community hubs have been set up by the council, Trafford Housing Trust, Thrive, Trafford Stronger Communities and other local community groups.

Residents will be signposted to the hubs remotely through the Trafford Community Response Line – 0300 330 9073 – which will be operational

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm and managed by the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Stockport

Stockport council’s dedicated coronavirus helpline – 0161 217 6046 – will be available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.

Bury

The council has created ‘virtual teams’ to staff five community hubs across the borough, covering Bury North, Bury South, Bury West, Prestwich and Whitefield.

They will proactively identify and reach out to vulnerable people directly using available data – but also want to hear from people directly.

Residents can call the hotline on 0161 253 5353. 

Bolton

The council has set up an emergency contact number for the extremely vulnerable people who have not been told to have any contact with anyone during the current situation.

Contact 01204 337221 if you, or someone you care for, have received a letter from the government.

If your charity or volunteer group would like to help with the coronavirus response, contact Bolton CVS at info@boltoncvs.org.uk or 01204 546055.

Wigan

Seven community hubs will be set up across Wigan borough with council employees deployed to the frontline alongside key workers.

The hubs will provide a central base in each community, where referrals for support will be received and delivered. Hubs are based in both Wigan and Leigh town centres, as well as Worsley Hall, Swinley, Atherton, Ashton, Hindley and Shevington

Although key workers and community groups will operate the hubs, the council is calling upon local residents who are well to volunteer their time.

If you are in urgent need of support, call 01942 489018 and a worker from your nearest hub will be in touch as soon as possible.


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