• Council thanks the public and voluntary organisations for all their help so far pulling the city through this pandemic
• People asked to ‘Think Local and Act Local’ and be good neighbours, where they can
• To keep essential services running and look after vulnerable people Council constantly monitoring how it deploys its staff

There’s been a great response from the people of Edinburgh to help the city through the current coronavirus pandemic.

We’d like to thank everyone who has been in touch with the voluntary and public sector to offer their skills and time. We know that many of you are keen to also ‘do your bit’ to contribute to this effort and we would like to thank those of you who are trying to find ways to help your communities. Your kindness and generosity in these difficult times are a reflection of all that is best about the city we share and the people who call it home.

We need everyone to look out for each other now more than ever and being a good neighbour and taking care of those who need help in your building, street or immediate community is going to help get us through – Volunteer Edinburgh has advice and information on how you can help.

If you are part of an existing or newly formed community group please contact EVOC who have developed a directory and are connecting the amazing community responses across the city.  EVOC is working hard to connect supply and demand of food at a very local and community level. EVOC is asking people to complete this basic form or email info@evoc.org.uk for more information.

Council Leader, Adam McVey, said:

The voluntary sector is doing an amazing job pulling everyone together and making sure people can help out appropriately following government guidelines. If you are able to help others then please ‘Think Local and Act Local’. Where you can, offer support to your wider family, your friends and your neighbours to help ensure that they can receive the essential supplies and medicine that they may need. Volunteer Edinburgh has a range of information and guidance on how to be a good neighbour safely. At the moment the best thing that most people can do is still to stay at home, limit social contact and follow NHS guidelines. This really is the most important contribution that can be made to the safety and resilience of the city.

Depute Leader, Cammy Day, said:

To keep essential services running and support those who are vulnerable, we’re constantly monitoring how we deploy our own staff as well. We’re working to identify where our services need help and at the moment we’re relying on our own internal capacity to meet those needs. We’ll be monitoring this over the weeks ahead and will work with Volunteer Edinburgh if we think we need the wider community to help us. In the meantime staying safe at home is the best thing people can do. If you can offer more then it really is a matter of thinking local and acting local.

I want to make sure the local community organisations have a key contact to make sure we have a joined up approach and would urge people to make connect via the EVOC.

Ella Simpson, Chief Officer of EVOC, said:

I am incredibly proud to be part of the voluntary sector in Edinburgh.  They know their communities so well and have been absolutely amazing in their responses to Covid-19.  As we continue to respond it is vital that we all work together – volunteers, voluntary sector and statutory agencies – to support the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Paul Wilson, Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh, said:

People’s response to the pandemic has been overwhelming.  In every street in Edinburgh people are helping each other, looking out for their neighbours and supporting the vulnerable and those in self isolation. Never before has it been more important to give your time, if you are able to, be a good neighbour and look out for each other. More than any other city in Scotland Edinburgh has always been a city of volunteers, of people who helped and I am very proud to live here. Please everyone be safe, think and act locally, continue to support your community in the weeks to come and most of all be kind.

Further information on volunteering locally

Further information on national volunteering guidance