In response to the ever-evolving ‘Covid-19’ situation, the management and staff of Roscommon LEADER Partnership (RLP) are taking a proactive approach to reassure communities right across Co. Roscommon that they are here to help.
Roscommon LEADER Partnership are working on a range of community support measures and have announced that they are redeploying a number of their staff to work on these initiatives in a bid to support the county’s citizens and communities.
Over the coming days they will be contacting all on the ground community leaders to lend their support and work in conjunction with the various voluntary initiatives already in place. All activities will be carried out with strict adherence and compliance with HSE guidelines and social distancing practices.
If anyone needs anything or knows of anyone requiring assistance, please contact the numbers below. RLP have a team of very willing volunteers ready to help and assist while adhering to HSE guidelines and social distancing practices. RLP wishes to acknowledge and support the fantastic work being done on the ground by all frontline staff, Gardaí, healthcare professionals, the GAA, community groups and all other organisations in the county.
Roscommon LEADER Partnership wishes to advise the public that they will be extending current service provision to the wider community including the friendly call initiative and their ‘Meals on wheels’ delivery service. The staff are also willing to provide assistance to anyone that has become unemployed recently, through ‘admin’ support, printing and completing forms. We also hope to support the massive volunteer response in Roscommon by giving the much-needed back-up support required with printing, delivery and phoning on behalf of our most vulnerable in the county.
Friendly Call
Friendly Call is a free phone call service for people living alone and is available to older people and anyone feeling lonely, isolated or vulnerable. Individuals can self-refer or can be referred by healthcare professionals, community groups or family members/friends.
The service operates with a large team of volunteers who are all Garda vetted, receive training before starting to make calls/visits and are supported by experienced mentors.
What is Friendly Call?
Your Friendly Caller will chat to you about your day and will check on how you are feeling. The service provides friendship and security, making you feel safer at home.
Your Friendly Caller will check that you have sufficient fuel for heat and also that you are receiving a cooked meal. If you do not answer the phone, the Friendly Caller will phone a member of your family, neighbour or friend.
“At the moment many voluntary groups are figuring out what help they need and we are advising on how to become involved safely, to avoid any further transmission of the coronavirus,” said Martina Earley, CEO of Roscommon LEADER Partnership.
“Now, more than ever, we strongly encourage people to volunteer through existing organisations that have experience in volunteer management. For the moment, Roscommon LEADER Partnership is advising everyone that the best way to volunteer is to follow all the necessary guidelines and directions issued by the State.
“We are focused on ensuring the vulnerable are supported in the coming weeks, and are willing to provide assistance and advice to any organisations that are focused on helping these people”.
Ms. Earley also added: “We would particular like to thank Arigna Fuels who kindly sponsored PPE for staff volunteering in the community. We would welcome donations from any business that will be forwarded on to the most vulnerable”.
Roscommon LEADER Partnership is also advising volunteers on how they can stay safe while volunteering during the crisis. If people are interested in volunteering we suggest they contact Roscommon LEADER Partnership’s volunteer information service by contacting Mena (086-0499 394) or by email at mena@ridc.ie.
* For more information on any of the above please contact Roscommon LEADER Partnership on 090 663 0252 or Tomás on 086-0460176.
* Together we can all work together to flatten the curve #FlattentheCurve.
