COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor Carly Bailey

To ask the Chief Executive to outline what supports and services are in place for communities within the Rathfarnham/Templeogue LEA that can be accessed via the community forum helpline.

REPLY:

The national framework for Community Response Forums identifies the following specific types of request for service to be recorded and actioned by the Community Call Helpdesk:

Collection and Delivery – Food, essential household items, fuel, medication in line with guidance

Social Isolation, supports, engagement

Meals and their delivery

Garda-related

Other medical/health needs

Other initiatives undertaken as part of the Commnity Response include:

• 1,600 calls have been made under the Community Call "Callout" initiative. The aim of the initiative is to make vulnerable households aware of the Community Call and respond immediately to any issues or concerns raised.
• 200 school meals delivered to families in need through the county with the assistance of An Post.
• Correspondence to pharmacies across the County to advise of supports available for emergency delivery of medication to vulnerable customers.
• Over the phone bereavement counselling services for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one
• Mapping of community, sporting and voluntary across the county who are providing locally based responses and launch of COVID 19 Emergency Fund to support their efforts
• Promotion by the Forum of the An Post Request a Check Initiative
• Coordinated and streamlined volunteer management process with South Dublin Volunteer Centre and voluntary organisations responding to COVID19 Support Helpdesk requests for support 
• Promotion of on line mental health and wellbeing activities

Community Call "In This Together"

On Friday 24^th April Government launched the next phase of the Community Call "In This Together" wellbeing campaign to help everyone stay connected, stay active and stay mentally well.

South Dublin County Council and the Community Response Forum is offering a range of activities and resources as part of the "In This Together" initiative:

• SDC Sports Partnership live exercise classes
• The Libraries Borrow Box
• On line music classes with Music Generation
• 5 minute crafts with our Library service
• Age Friendly News
• Bouncing baby book club
• LEO online courses and business supports

 In This Together also draws together the huge range of advice and support that is available online for people of all ages, including:

• Mindmindr app
• Mental Health Facebook talks from 27th to 30th April
• Promotion of our parks and getting back to nature
• Volunteer from Home initiative
• 4 the Famlily support programme
• Crosscare Youth Information Chat Service

 The Council are collating a listing of all activities supporting In this Together and this will be available on the Council website.