TEAMS of volunteers are in place across East Lothian doing everything they can to help vulnerable members of their communities.
From collecting shopping and vital prescriptions to dog walking and simply being there for people, the volunteers are there for residents throughout the coronavirus crisis.
Here, we look at six of the groups who are giving up their own time to help out.
Gifford
IN GIFFORD, the team are beginning to prepare for a possible ease of lockdown and subsequent impact on the resilience efforts, with some volunteers likely to return to their day jobs.
The Soup and a Smile service continues, with more people coming forward, and the community council hopes to include a copy of the Courier in its deliveries for those not already receiving one.
Community council chairperson Joanne Allen said: “Our single point of contact (SPoC), Adam, and deputy SPoC, Wendy, are leading on work to look at how our resilience network can continue to operate if lockdown restrictions ease.
“This may mean that many of our volunteers return to work or education; family networks may want to step back in while health advice may change.
“For many of our households – especially those that are high risk – there may be no change for quite some time and we need to be prepared to continue to support them in whatever way they are comfortable with.
“It’s important that we consider these issues now. Adam and Wendy had already created our resilience plan which was adapted to deal with Covid-19.
We will be contacting our volunteers to better understand how any changes will affect them personally and their involvement in the resilience work.”
Contact details
Anyone who needs support or wants to help can contact: Jo Allen, on 01620 811019 or chairgiffordcc@gmail.com; Adam White, on 01620 810298 or adamjswhite@outlook.com; Wendy Ferguson, on 01620 811069 or wendyferguson.wf@gmail.com; or The Rev Aniko Schuetz Bradwell, on 01620 811193 or anikoschuetzbradwell@churchofscotland.org.uk
Haddington
NEW friendships and new relationships are being formed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Volunteers throughout Haddington have been offering to help people in need during the last eight weeks.
Chris McEwan, vice-chairman of the town’s community council, praised the efforts of people throughout the town in what has been a difficult situation.
He said: “I cannot believe how well the town is pulling together. We are doing a lot of good things and a lot of volunteers are right into a regular pattern with people they are looking after.
“Some of them are saying they are going to continue doing it even if this completely goes away. New friendships and relationships have been struck up.”
The resilience group has been working hard alongside other organisations in the town to help people who are needing assistance.
That has included joining forces with Haddington Rotary Club and Our Community Kitchen to help deliver copies of the Courier to people who are unable to get out to shops.
Chris highlighted that social distancing was not only impacting upon people’s physical health but also their mental health.
He said: “We have had a lot of people doing kindness telephone calls as well. Our Community Kitchen are doing that as well and we have got people phoning up just trying to alleviate the boredom and isolation for people who are really struggling.
“We have had people wanting people to come round for a coffee and we had somebody wanting someone to take her out in her wheelchair.
“It is one of the most heartbreaking things but you cannot really do that.”
Volunteers have been assisting in whatever manner they can, from picking up shopping and prescriptions to dog walking and even trying to find gardeners to help people who cannot take care of their garden during the lockdown.
Chris has also been making special visors for businesses that hope to be starting up again in the near future.
At the same time, the town’s community council is keeping its website updated with information about the coronavirus and other assistance on offer.
Contact details
For more information, go to www.haddingtoncc.org.uk or call 07952 003 386 between 10am and 4pm.
Macmerry and Gladsmuir
IT HAS been business as usual for the resilience team in Macmerry and Gladsmuir, who hope to deliver activity packs to adults in the next couple of weeks and have also received praise from the local MSP.
Stevie Sutherland, one of the co-ordinators, said that the team’s hot meals service is still ongoing and volunteers continue to help with tasks such as shopping, prescription uplifts and Post Office visits.
In the past couple of weeks, about 90 packs were handed out as part of the resilience team’s pom pom initiative, which aims to brighten up the village, as well as people’s lives, and is a way to thank all key workers.
Stevie said that about four or five pom poms can be made from one pack.
Ribbons have been placed across both villages, outside the school gates, on several trees and outside the play park in Gladsmuir.
People who make a pom pom can then tie it to these ribbons as part of the display.
Some people have also taken to making their own displays in their gardens.
Reaction to the pom poms has so far been positive.
In the coming weeks, adult activity packs will be delivered, including things such as puzzles, adult colouring books and craft items, to keep people entertained during lockdown.
Funding for the craft packs came from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.
The resilience team also received a recent donation of 1,000 bars of soap, with the soap also being included in the activity packs.
Iain Gray, East Lothian’s MSP, has also donated items to the group.
Stevie said he was in Gladsmuir decorating the village with ribbons when Mr Gray and his wife approached him.
Stevie said: “He said it was a really good idea and asked if I could make use of various items of kids’ toys. There is a wide spread of things.”
The items will be given to children in the local area.
Contact details
More information is available on the resilience group’s Facebook and Twitter pages, at facebook.com/groups/554199292116823/ and twitter.com/MacmerryTeam
Ormiston
THE great work being done by residents in Ormiston continues as people find ways to help make life easier for others.
From washing cars to delivering birthday surprises, volunteers have been making everyone proud.
Community council chairman Scott Gillies said: “A big thank you goes to Lewis Ward, from Saltire Mobile Valeting, who has been busy.
“He power-washed all the bus shelters and visited the ambulance centre in Haddington and gave all the staff ’s cars a free wash.
“We have had one volunteer who found out one of our residents, who was shielding, was turning 70.
“So they delivered balloons and a card when they were delivering them their lunch. She was delighted!
“Another volunteer carried a large bag of compost to a resident who is 99 and still loves working in his garden. He has his garden looking fantastic and was very grateful.
“I think one of the main things that has come out of this situation is that community spirit has been strengthened.
“Andrea Reay, one of our volunteers, said she has really enjoyed getting to know some of her neighbours she hadn’t met before and gets a lot of satisfaction knowing you have brightened up someone’s day by getting them some shopping and having a wee chat on the doorstep.
“Resident Sandra Colquhoun said her volunteer, Lisa Cunningham, has been a ‘Godsend’ and can’t thank her enough for what she has done for her.”
Contact details
The resilience team of volunteers are there to help and anyone in Ormiston can contact them on 07737 569480 between 8am and 7pm seven days a week, or email Ormistoncrteam@hotmail.com.
Pencaitland
PENCAITLAND residents have set up a Facebook page for those who would like to volunteer to help “if Covid-19 infections overstretch local services and we need people on the ground to help out fellow locals”.
The community were also given a batch of hand sanitiser by Glenkinchie Distillery, which was shared by volunteers with the Fa’side resilience team to distribute to volunteers across Tranent, Elphinstone, Macmerry, Ormiston and Pencaitland.
Local residents have been encouraged for some weeks to avoid visiting in person the village’s shops and to contact the staff via telephone or email to arrange home deliveries.
Shoppers are asked to contact Karim Hassam at the Spar on 01875 340519 or message him via Facebook at www.facebook.com/karim.hassam.94
Mari Fraser in the Granny Shop is also available on 01875 340703 and via Messenger at www.facebook.com/mari.fraser and is happy to organise fresh rolls, milk and newspapers.
Contact details
For more information, go to www.facebook.com/groups/210574046672777
Tranent and Elphinstone
IN TRANENT and Elphinstone, work continues to help those who are vulnerable, most in need, or who require assistance.
The resilience effort is being led by the local community council and is overseen by member Mike Falconer, the group’s single point of contact (SPoC).
The calls and enquiries that continue to come in are described by Mike as “repeat business”, such as those requiring pick up of their next prescription or next load of shopping.
However, new enquiries have still been surfacing and those who require help of any kind are urged to get in touch.
As with other groups, Mike is considering how the resilience effort can continue once lockdown restrictions begin to ease.
Those who have registered as volunteers will be contacted by Mike and asked if they are still available and if their circumstances have changed.
The resilience team also helps Fundamental Foods and the Pennypit Trust with meal deliveries, as well as the school hub and its meal and lunch deliveries.
More than 2,000 food packages have been delivered so far.
Additionally, those who usually pick up hearing aid batteries from the library can call the Port Seton Centre on 01875 818181 to arrange for them to be delivered.
Contact details
Those who need assistance can call 07483 453878 or email tranentemergencyresponse@gmail.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article