Cumbernauld Charities Offered Support With Vital Pandemic Deliveries From Fire and Rescue Service

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is extending its support to local communities during the third national lockdown through offering assistance with deliveries of food and medication to vulnerable groups in Cumbernauld.  

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic stay-at-home instructions from Scottish Government have once again left many self-isolating individuals and at-risk families facing dilemmas and difficult decisions over how to access to basic amenities over the coming weeks.

To help alleviate these concerns, the national fire and rescue service has communicated its capacity and willingness to support local charitable organisations across North Lanarkshire in distributing supplies to service users and those most in need at this time.  

The offer of support provides another illustration of how communities in Greater Cumbernauld have pulled together effectively and helped each other during the challenging circumstances faced over the past year.

It also underlines just how much Scottish Fire and Rescue Service recognises and values the important role of voluntary sector organisations and local volunteers in responding to community need in the midst of the pandemic. Mary McNeil, Development Manager at Cornerstone House Centre, commented:

“Charities and community organisations in Greater Cumbernauld, and ultimately underprivileged people in the local area, have an opportunity to benefit from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s generous offer of assistance this winter.

“As a Community Anchor Organisation, Cornerstone House Centre has had the privilege of hearing of new stories every day about individuals and groups who are sacrificing their own needs and interests to help vulnerable citizens in Cumbernauld right now.

“There are too many to mention here, but a heartfelt thanks goes out to organisations such as Bethlehem House of Bread Food Bank, CACE Older People Active Lives, Carbrain and Hillcrest Community Council, Chryston Community Council, Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Citizens Advice Bureau, Cumbernauld COVID-19 Support Group, Cumbernauld Poverty Action, Cumbernauld Resilience Group and The Trussell Trust.

“It’s amazing to see how communities in the area have come together so strongly and resiliently during this national emergency. Indeed, it is a real honour for Cornerstone House Centre to be a partner agency of such groups.”

Meanwhile, Cornerstone House Centre continues to play a role in the community’s response through delivering its Cumbernauld CHaT (Community Help and Talk) Service, which offers a range of free practical supports, interventions, advice giving and chat options a view to helping Cumbernauld citizens through this challenging period.

A telephone helpline, open from 9am-9pm every day, and email support service have been set up and are operational every day through the provision. Independent of statutory agencies, the service aims to act as a first stop shop for advice, guidance, signposting, social contact and practical assistance for those in the Cumbernauld area in need of help at this time.

Furthermore, in 2020, Cumbernauld CHaT Service published The Cumbernauld Coronavirus 101 Directory as a free resource for local people and families. This details 101 organisations, services, supports and resources across the public, voluntary and private sectors which may be of benefit to those living in Cumbernauld and surrounding areas during the pandemic, consisting of a mixture of local, regional and national provisions.

If you are a charity or voluntary sector organisation in Greater Cumbernauld and would like to benefit from the support being offered by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, please contact Watch Commander Richard McInnes at the agency’s North Lanarkshire Headquarters on 01698 402724 or email richard.mcinnes@firescotland.gov.uk.