Communities Together, a Lifeline During the COVID-19 Outbreak

That the Parliament acknowledges the establishment of Communities Together, an umbrella group that pulls together the community response to meet the needs of Bellshill, Mossend and Holytown and Thorniewood wards of North Lanarkshire against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak; understands that Communities Together operates from the Bellshill YMCA and prepares food parcels for delivery to vulnerable people, collects and delivers essentials, including prescriptions and shopping, for those who need it and also provides signposting and guidance via its helpline, where people can be linked in to befriending or a range of public and voluntary services during these challenging times; recognises that Communities Together was brought together by a range of community partners, including North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire, as well as the community and voluntary sector and local people; understands that Communities Together is managed by the Chair and Bellshill Councillor, Jordan James Linden, and Vice Chair, Claire McElroy, who is a Health Improvement Senior at NHS Lanarkshire; notes that group runs seven days a week and that, in addition to the Chair and Vice Chair, is led each day by a team of dedicated volunteer team leaders, who are Ann-Marie Treacy and Sharon Kelly, who are from YMCA Bellshill, and Frances McKay and Angela Scott, who are from NHS Lanarkshire; recognises that these team leaders are supported by an amazing team of 70 volunteers, who are responsible for administration, picking and packing of Items, delivery and acting as follow-up callers; notes that Communities Together has, within three weeks of launching on 27 April 2020, helped 600 people with emergency food supplies, which did not include the additions of shopping, prescriptions and other tasks for their service users; believes that the group is an important lifeline for the local community at this challenging time; sends sincerest thanks to all volunteers involved in the project for their selfless acts of kindness and love to help those in their community, and wishes the project continuing success as it plays its role in responding to COVID-19.