The Highland Council's COVID helpline 0300 303 1362 which has been up and running since 25th March has now handled over 5000 calls.
The helpline provides support for those needing urgent help including those shielding or otherwise vulnerable and anyone interested in volunteering. There is also access to advice on welfare benefits, education guidance and support including pupil and teacher digital support and free school meals. Help with signposting to information for key worker childcare and business grants is also accessible through the single helpline number.
For the Friday 8th May bank holiday the Council’s Helpline and Shielding line will be working slightly reduced hours of 10am to 4pm, there is also an out of hours emergency weekend service accessible through the helpline for those in need of urgent support.
The helpline continues to be operated by Council staff volunteers and the Council is also grateful to the Eden Court staff who played an important part in the success of the helpline service in its initial weeks.
Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson said: "I want to sincerely thank our staff and those from Eden Court who have been helping to answer calls for all their hard work. The speed in which the helpline was established is a credit to them and all our own staff who will be continuing to assist anyone who contacts the helpline."
“The high level of calls being dealt with shows the importance of continuing to provide as much support to people as possible so I would encourage anyone needing urgent assistance to call the Helpline as staff are ready to help.”
The Council is encouraging people to continue to use normal routes for urgent business including the 01349 886602 Service Centre line for enquiries and using online forms to make payments, report problems and request a service. There are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from www.highland.gov.uk (external link)
To make a payment visit https://www.highland.gov.uk/pay
To report a problem visit https://www.highland.gov.uk/report
To request a service visit https://www.highland.gov.uk/request
The Council’s website also includes a special Coronavirus webpage which provides updated information which people may find helpfulhttps://www.highland.gov.uk/coronavirus