Meet the dedicated Cosgrove charity volunteers helping the most vulnerable in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire

Cosgrove – a charity helping improve the lives of people with additional needs and their families in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire – launched a community support plan to provide vital lifeline services to those impacted the most by lockdown and self-isolation.

Willing volunteers have been assisting with tasks such as shopping, collecting prescriptions and other errands.

Frank Sullivan has delivered scores of care packages including food provisions, hot meals for community groups, Easter Eggs and various other items in the past weeks.

He has literally done any task asked of him since starting to volunteer in mid-March and his commitment has been inspiring.

When he’s not volunteering with Cosgrove, he also volunteers for various other charitable organisations each week – he’s been a true inspiration and a fantastic addition to Cosgrove’s Covid Community Support team.

Callum Turner has been one of the lynchpins of Cosgrove’s Home Shopping Service, helping vulnerable people who are self isolating through both doing and delivering their shopping several times a week where possible.

He is a chef and this seems to be a real benefit in always being able to pick out the correct food items, even when sometimes the instructions are less than clear!

His energy, enthusiasm and high levels of respect and compassion for the people that he helps have been a real benefit to Cosgrove and the charity is proud to have him on its team.

Callum said: “I needed to be doing something at a time like this and I’m just really glad it’s helping others as well as helping me.”

Sharon Watson works at Weatherspoons in Shawlands, and speaks affectionately of her regulars at the pub.

She said: “Older prople who enjoy the pub, the banter the social interaction, I’m concerned for them all losing this and having to be isolsted and solitary.”

Sharon has turned that concern into support for Cosgrove, and has been a brilliant volunteer.

Her many qualities have made her an ideal member of Cosgrove’s volunteer team - caring, helpful and lots of patience, with a classic Glasgow ‘no bother’ attitude that means she always goes over and above the call of duty.

Cosgrove volunteers are helping hundreds of others in similar situations during the COVID-19 crisis.

It has launched an emergency appeal to to raise funds to help its support workers, carers and volunteers to continue their amazing work.

You can find out more about the appeal, and how to donate at Cosgrove Emergency Appeal