Helping the elderly with Age UK Notts
Nottingham charities Muslim Hands and Age UK Notts have partnered to provide a welfare telephone support service during the Coronavirus pandemic. The service, which is provided by trained staff and volunteers, was launched on Wednesday 25th March 2020 and the helpline - number 0115 844 0011 - will operate in the UK between the hours of 9am-5pm, 7 days a week.
Muslim Hands has donated £20,000 to help deliver this vital lifeline with the aim to reach out to older people of all faiths and in all parts of the city and county, where service users can find a friendly voice at the end of the phone if they are lonely, anxious and have no-one else to turn to for help with every day activities such as shopping, medication collection and social contact.
Muslim Hands is aware that the need for help will grow and have taken the step in making sure that needs of the people of Nottingham are met. Other support provided by the charity will be to provide multilingual volunteers to help people access the service when English is not their first language and will help ensure that Age UK Notts’ welfare service is accessible across the community.
Dr Basel Alkhder of Muslims Hands said:
‘The Coronavirus Pandemic is a global issue and people right across the world are frightened and anxious. They are also coming together to build stronger communities through looking after each other, not only on the basis of faith, but on the basis of humanity. We are pleased to be able to help Age UK Notts deliver this much needed service because we are all part of the local community’.
Lauren McGowan of Age UK Notts said:
‘Charities across the board are really struggling to raise the funds they need to meet the surge in demand for welfare services as a result of government guidance on isolation and social distancing. We want all older people to be safe in their homes, to reduce the spread of the virus but also to still feel part of the community.
This generous donation from Muslims Hands, together with the offer of further support from their volunteers, will help us make those aims a reality, and we are grateful for their help’.
