How the sector is responding to the pandemic #NeverMoreNeeded
Public challenged to sell Big Issue
The Big Issue has called on the public to take on a challenge to ‘sell’ the award-winning magazine on behalf of the street sellers in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.
The Big Issue, which offers homeless and vulnerably housed people across the UK a means by which to earn a legitimate income, recently had to take the decision to safeguard its network of sellers by asking that they stop selling on streets for the foreseeable future.
With sellers currently unable to operate, the organisation with the support of consultancy firm Fox and Hare, is asking existing subscribers and supporters of the magazine, as well as people who are working from home or have been furloughed, to volunteer their time and join an army of Associate Big Issue Sellers.
To take on the challenge, people have to download the magazine’s app, or take out a print subscription and sell three subscriptions to three friends and family within seven days.
Find out more on The Big Issue website.
Covid-19 survey
The professional body for people who work or volunteer in community learning and development in Scotland is looking for workers to complete a survey.
The CLD Standards Council has asked practitioners to complete a short survey to gather information and examples on the response to Covid-19.
The second wave of the study is opened until Sunday (17 May), with a third wave to follow. Initial findings showed the workforce has been resilient, agile and quick to respond to young people, learners and community needs with practitioners being an essential link between people and authorities, communities, education providers and government.
You can find out more and take part on the CLD Standards Council website.
Support for those living with MS
People isolated by the coronavirus pandemic living with multiple sclerosis (MS) can seek support and assurance thanks to a new remote chatting service.
The MS Society has set up the Keep in Touch (KIT) service in response to a large number of the MS community shielding and socially distancing, ahead of a planned full befriending service later this year.
Staff from the charity are stepping up to be a part of KIT and making weekly calls to contact and chat with people affected by the lockdown. Anyone affected by MS including carers and family members can receive a phone call as a check-in to let people know they are not alone.
Morna Simpkins has been director of MS Society Scotland for five years. She is one of the charity’s team members who has put herself forward to be part of the calls with people accessing the service.
She said: “I really wanted to be part for this service as I know how vital it is to offer people different options for support to suit them.
“Keep in Touch gives people an opportunity to connect informally, have a conversation one-to-one and, perhaps now more than ever, that’s key.
“There’s no set subjects and callers don’t need to be looking for anything in particular, we’re just providing a space to chat and a friendly voice on the other end of the phone, but of course can signpost to other services including our helpline if needed.”
Keep in Touch aims to provide anyone affected by MS with a weekly phone call as a check-in to let people know they are not alone.
To get in touch with the KIT service call the helpline on 0808 800 8000 or email KIT@mssociety.org.uk
Shopping service rolled out
A new shopping service is being rolled out by UK-based microgifting platform, Huggg, along with the British Red Cross to support people who don’t have friends or family nearby to help them get the supplies they need.
Designed to help the 1.28 million people who remain shielded, many of whom have limited access to supermarket delivery slots, the Huggg shopping ordering and delivery solution enables British Red Cross volunteers to fetch food and supplies for those who can’t rely on family or friends for assistance.
The family member, friend or individual can simply buy a digital supermarket voucher and fill out a shopping list online. An alert will then be sent to The British Red Cross volunteer network to accept the call-out, do the shopping and deliver it to the person in a socially distanced, secure and cashless way, in line with government guidelines. Any money left on the voucher is returned to the person to use at a later date. Huggg does not charge fees to the user or the charity.
Jon Pewtner, crisis response manager at the British Red Cross, said: “We know how difficult it is for some people to do a food shop at the moment. Not everyone has somebody nearby who can go along to the supermarket on their behalf.
"The Red Cross is here to help people in that situation. And it's brilliant to be working with Huggg to support sheltered people in our communities. Their system is really fast, efficient and secure, and makes it so much easier for our volunteers to respond to a request for help.
"We also notice how much people appreciate being able to specify exactly what they want. The Huggg system helps bring dignity and compassion to a difficult situation."
Available across the UK, shopping can be ordered and paid for using a simple web flow and card payment. A volunteer will be assigned within approximately 24 hours of the request being made, and can undertake a shopping trip at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer or Asda, with more supermarkets due to be announced soon.
To find out more, visit the website.
Raising awareness of young carers
Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament have started a campaign on the issue of supermarket access for young carers and young adult carers during lockdown. This campaign has been set up by Ilse Cuthbertson MSYP, Carers Trust Scotland and Aaran McDonald MSYP.
During lockdown, a significant and recurring issue raised by young carers is that some are still not getting access to supermarkets during protected hours set aside for vulnerable groups. Young carers are facing age discrimination and refusal to access if they are accompanied by family members.
One young person who got in touch with their MSYP said: “After waiting in the long queue, a member of staff said they were only allowing two people into the store per family. After explaining I am a young carer, the staff member still couldn’t understand why there needed to be two carers. I had to further explain my caring responsibilities for my brother and mum before the member of staff finally allowed us in. This was an emotional and frustrating situation and no young carer should need to go through this.”
There is also inconsistency of messaging by supermarkets across the UK, and even from store to store. Furthermore, a number of carers are struggling to get access to online shopping or difficulty meeting the minimum expenditure for online shopping. This issue also intertwines with carer identification.
#Supermarkets4Change aims to raise awareness of unpaid carers with local supermarkets and to include these young people in the protected hours set aside for vulnerable groups. MSYPs have written to local supermarket stores on behalf of their constituents, raising awareness of who young carers are, and why it is important to include these young people in dedicated shopping times.
For support on this issue, contact ilse.cuthbertson.msyp@sypmail.org.uk or Aaran.McDonald.MSYP@sypmail.org.uk
Long term coronavirus decisions should centre on human rights
Ruth Maguire MSP has called for the Scottish Government to take a human-rights based approach to decision making on suppressing the coronavirus outbreak which includes the needs of disabled people.
During an open debate in the Scottish Parliament on the next steps to be taken in responding to the health crisis, the SNP MSP cited a statement from Inclusion Scotland which highlighted a ‘triple whammy’ impact impact of the virus on disabled people.
She said: “This pandemic may be the greatest challenge of our time. Lives have been lost and everyone’s lives have changed. However, although we are all in the same storm, we are most definitely not all in the same boat.
“On top of years of exclusion and austerity, disabled people have been dealt a triple whammy of virus, lack of control and lack of support control and support that they need to enable them to endure the pandemic and whatever comes after it.”
Heather Fisken, from Inclusion Scotland, said: “We want to see a more socially just and accessible future for disabled people. Over 800 disabled people and their carers responded to our Covid-19 survey sharing their lived experience of the changes being made in response to it.
“What has became abundantly clear is that things we have been calling for for years – accessible information, online classes, support with isolation - have, in a matter of weeks become ‘mainstream’. The next steps must include protecting our human rights and involving us, in planning for the future.”
The MSP convenes the Equality and Human Rights Committee which is presently seeking views from the public and organisations on the human rights impacts on disadvantaged groups of Covid-19 and the responses to tackle it.
