Highland Council bosses say lockdown measures are now biting hard into the region’s families and businesses, with a substantial increase in hardship and poverty levels.
Unemployment inquiries have increased five fold at the north’s biggest Citizens Advice Bureau centre in Inverness, while an unprecedented number of council tax direct debits has either been cancelled or refused by the bank.
Council leader Margaret Davidson described the onset of lockdown as an initial shock for everyone, with stress, anxiety and uncertainty levels rising as people got used to the new normal, and still continuing to take their toll.
Mrs Davidson said: “So many businesses, particularly the small and medium size ones so important in the Highland economy, had everything pulled from underneath them within 24 hours.
“Thousands and thousands of people across Highland are worried about their jobs and income.
“Nearly ten weeks into the emergency, many are finding themselves on reduced incomes, or have lost their jobs.
“They’ve used up their savings and many are experiencing poverty for the first time.”
Mrs Davidson said the picture was not all negative.
“We have an astonishing community response out there, with 330 groups who are out there helping the most vulnerable, supporting each other and looking to the future.
“Collaboration among the public agencies has also been astonishing, including terrific improvement in co-operation and speed of response from NHS Highland.”
Government funding has come in and been distributed to the people who have needed it, she said.
“And my goodness, they have needed it. But it is only emergency money and the future remains uncertain.
“Our helpline staff also listen out for indications of people’s emotional welfare when they ring in about something else.”
Council chief executive Donna Manson said the council had was aware of ‘real trauma’ coming through from businesses and families.
She said: “We have been able to pull together and work quickly to help them.”
