After being made aware of recent doorstep and cold calling scams it’s more important than ever to reassure people that there are trusted and reputable services available to help.
Dial-OP & GO is here to support the Sector, partners and community members during these challenging times. Our commitment remains to:
• operate as an information resource on support locally available and
• ensure the most vulnerable in our communities don’t feel disconnected and isolated.
Through the Information Line, Dial-OP holds an internal up to date list of local organisations and agencies that can help during this uncertain time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please phone the Dial-OP Helpline regarding any enquiry about current services relating to your wellbeing including shopping, food provision, collecting prescriptions, befriending and morning calls.
The call handlers will provide organisations and the general public with the most up to date information and will signpost or arrange onward referral to the relevant services. You can email dialop@dvva.scot or call 01382 305757, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Through our information line we have consistently received a high number of enquiries related to food insecurity:
43% in relation to Shopping/Food Supplies
27% in relation to Prescription Collection
20% in relation to Befriending and Older People’s Support
Nicola Mitchell, Older Peoples Services Development Officer said: "I would urge any older or vulnerable person who needs help to get in their food shopping because they are self-isolating, to contact our Dial Op telephone helpline in the first instance and we will arrange for your shopping to be carried out by a trusted organisation or volunteer.
Our volunteer shoppers will carry identification with a telephone number for you to call to double check who they are if you are unsure.”
We’re keen for the community to know that following a great response from hundreds of new volunteers those who have recently taken up roles are working as part of a team. When we had a vulnerable person call in looking for support for shopping – with help from our Dial-OP Operator; he put in an order for Click and Collect. We then arranged for a Community Response Volunteer to collect and deliver it to his door – a very happy customer.
Often enquires are complex and need a joined-up approach. One very frail lady had had a new freezer delivered but the company had failed to take away her old one and fit the new one. Her old freezer was broken and the food had defrosted, so needed to be thrown out. We arranged for uplift of the old freezer and for her new one to be fitted. We also arranged a food delivery to tide her over and put her in touch with local Timebank volunteers for future shopping needs. As well as this we discussed volunteer telephone befriending services she could access.
This elderly woman was so delighted she told us she ‘clapped for Dial-Op and its volunteers on Thursday night!’”
Through the process of matching volunteers to charity and third sector organisations we are ensuring the safety of both the community and volunteers.
Dundee Volunteer & Voluntary Action
Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action is a Registered Charity (No SC000487) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (No SC093088) Registered address: 10 Constitution Road, Dundee DD1 1LL Dundee Third Sector Interface (TSI) is a partnership between Dundee Social Enterprise Network and Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action
