This page will be used to share local and national information and resources during the Coronavirus crisis.
Any documents linked to from this page will be the most recent versions and can be shared.
If you have any information to share please email it to mfin54@gmail.com or use the Contact Us page.
Food and Key Essentials Fund – Support available from Midlothian Council for local people who are in financial difficulty and struggling to buy food, fuel or other essentials.
Emergency Food Leaflet – Leaflet for clients who need information about emergency food provision in Midlothian.
Emergency Guide – This Midlothian HSCP Guide brings together all the numbers you should need to support vulnerable clients on issues such as money, food, fuel, seeing a GP etc.
Winter Response – Details of the Council/volunteer response to requests for shopping, prescriptions etc.
Midlothian TSI Email Updates – All the COVID-19 email updates from Midlothian TSI collated into a single PDF document, there are links to all email attachments at the bottom of the document.
MFIN Email Updates – All email updates from MFIN collated into a single PDF document, some updates contain COVID-19 information, there are links to all email attachments at the bottom of the document.
FareShare Go – FareShare is working to help charities and community groups access much needed food during this challenging time.
Volunteer Midlothian have produced two documents to be used by groups looking to help their communities during the crisis, Guidance for Community Response Volunteer Coordinators and a Volunteer Risk Assessment Template.
Dalkeith CAB and Penicuik CAB are still offering telephone and email advice. They can arrange food bank referrals and offer specific benefit or employment advice etc. They are also able to refer to and work with other local organisations to help clients. Dalkeith CAB have a direct number for foodbank referrals, 0131 654 4365.
Dalkeith CAB – 0131 660 1636 bureau@dalkeithcab.org.uk
Penicuik CAB – 01968 675259 bureau@penicuikcab.org.uk
Midlothian Community Support Groups – a list in PDF format of local Community Support Groups and Community Councils on Facebook.
Midlothian Council:
- Midlothian Food and Key Essentials Fund – Fund providing emergency vouchers to help buy food and other essentials.
- Sharing Personal Information on Social Media – Guidelines on sharing personal information.
- Information Page, including updates on the status of council services.
- #KindnessMidlothian Campaign – Details of the campaign to coordinate community support efforts in Midlothian.
- #Kindness Midlothian Webpage – New webpage with links to community support for each area in Midlothian and an online form to request support.
NHS Lothian:
- General Health Information page.
- Information on volunteering with NHS Lothian.
Ready Scotland – Information on how to help your Community from Safer Scotland.
Child Poverty Action Group:
- Updated information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), families and social security.
- Benefits and Coronavirus – Information for welfare advisers.
Citizens Advice Scotland – Includes information on Scam Awareness.
Scottish Council For Voluntary Organisations:
- SCVO Coronavirus Community Assistance Directory – Searchable online registry of Scotland-wide Community Support Groups.
- SCVO Coronavirus Third Sector Information Hub – Information for Third Sector Organisations.
Scottish Government:
- General Information page
- Getting tested in Scotland – who is eligible for a test, how to get tested and the different types of test available.
- Ready Scotland – where to find additional support
- National Volunteering Plan for Coronavirus – information on new Scotland Cares campaign.
- Helping communities affected by COVID-19 – information on funding being made available to help communities during the crisis.
NHS Inform Scotland:
- COVID-19 Information – Latest coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance from NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government.
- COVID-19 vaccine – Information on the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.
Social Security Scotland:
- COVID-19 Information– Information on current service delivery.
- Information on Benefits – Information on devolved Scottish benefits.
UK Government:
- General Information page.
- Help with mobile phone and broadband – Government agreed measures with telecoms companies to support vulnerable consumers through COVID-19.
NHS UK – National Health Service Information page.
DWP – Updates on benefits.
Digital Unite – Guides on health and well being and staying connected.
Ofcom:
- Staying Connected – Advice on staying connected during the crisis.
- Support for phone and broadband customers – News article on helping people who are struggling to pay phone and broadband bills.
ICO – Information from the Information Commissioner’s Office on data protection rules and procedures during the crisis. There is also a blog page with specific information for community groups.