In the second part of a new feature, TFN highlights people in the sector who have been making a difference during lockdown #NeverMoreNeeded
Crisis often brings out the best of the voluntary sector.
As businesses worry about profit, and politicians strategize – charity workers and volunteers have continued to do what they do best, help people.
The initial response from the sector to the pandemic cannot be underestimated. Despite funding worries, offices closing and volunteers and staff having to self-isolate, organisations have embraced the challenges presented by the outbreak.
In the second part of this feature, we highlight just a few of the people - nominated by TFN readers - who are making a difference.
Callum Turner
Chef Callum Turner has been giving vital tips on the types of food that will help people through lockdown.
As a volunteer, he has been integral part of social care charity Cosgrove Care’s Home Shopping Service.
The charity’s fundraising manager James Lwanda said: “Callum has been one of the lynchpins of the service, helping vulnerable people who are self-isolating through both doing and delivering their shopping several times a week where possible.
“Callum 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!
“Callum’s energy, enthusiasm and high levels of respect and compassion for the people that we help are a real benefit to Cosgrove and we’re proud to have him on our 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.”
Kenny Murphy
Getting a prescription has been a challenge for many in communities across Scotland, with some self-isolating and pharmacies reporting long queues.
Fife Voluntary Action (FVA) took the initiative by teaming up with with NHS Fife, the Health and Social Care Partnership and Fife Council to launch a prescription delivery service for people who are most in need.
The independent charity is working with over 80 pharmacies, with volunteer drivers uplifting and delivering prescriptions to those most at risk in the event of a Covid-19 infection.
Kenny Murphy is chief executive of FVA, and has been leading the huge team of volunteers.
He said: “The helping hands service is a brand new project that was created in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It came through a conversation we had with Fife Council on how we could provide a place for people who were in isolation to come to if they were unable to get their prescriptions or require any other assistance.
“We have been getting requests from all over the country from people who have relatives in Fife, who are vulnerable and can’t leave their homes.”
Louise Dempsey
Louise Dempsey has been going above and beyond to help the young people of Renfrewshire.
Founder of small charity Youth Interventions, Louise is well known in the area for the support the charity provides in the community. When lockdown struck, the first thing she did was make sure all of the young people the charity supports were well.
Lisa Little, an NHS nurse and trustee of the charity, nominated Louise and said her work has been amazing.
She said: “Since the lockdown, Louise has been staying connected to the young people who use the service - of which 25 come to every Tuesday. She paid a visit to every one of their homes - while maintaining social distancing - to drop of wellbeing kits that she and our youth worker Leanne had made. The young people and their parents were grateful and are telling us that it really gave their families a much needed boost.”
As the group had no funding for the packs, Louise paid for the items out of her own pocket and has been doing everything she can to get them to as many people as possible.
Julie Roberts
Pilates teacher Julie Roberts has stepped up to help another social enterprise.
Invisible Cities is an award winning social enterprise that trains people who have experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides in their own cities. However all tours have had to be suspended as a result of the new guidelines.
Zakia Moulaoui, founder of Invisible Cities, said: “As a social entrepreneur, I met Julie when she was thinking of setting-up her own venture, and now she is up and running today.
“Given the current circumstances she has decided to support Invisible Cities through her online classes and her words definitely highlight why it is important to take time to support one another, not only at times of pandemic but all the time!”
Julie, who runs Ostara Pilates, said: “When I heard that Invisible Cities was having to suspend all of its tours due to increased social distancing measures, I instantly felt compelled to help because of how Zakia has willingly supported me on my journey. For me, this was my chance to pay her back.
“I had noticed the Invisible Cities had launched Children’s Activity Packs and instantly thought it would be a great idea to offer these alongside my Junior Pilates classes.
“Junior Pilates now happens virtually via Zoom and instead of waiting until Easter, I rolled them out straight away in a bid to try and help home working mums and dads keep their kids entertained for a short time during their working day.
“The business of pilates and helping to tackle homelessness is not such a weird combination after all; it’s just two businesses, fuelled by purpose and passion, supporting each other at a very difficult time and that was always the reason behind me starting my own business.”
Kathy Chappelle
Kathy Chappelle is a kindness caller volunteer for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.
The service supports people who are stuck in the house (due to health reasons) to stay connected.
“I love a good chat and I’m always happy to listen and help people in my community whenever I can, so that’s why I wanted to become a Kindness Caller,” said the 46-year-old from Lennoxtown.
“I now speak to two ladies over the phone each week and I’ve found it really interesting. It’s something I look forward to and I really enjoy our conversations.
“If you’re isolated at home, having that friendly phone call and someone checking in and just asking ‘how are you?’ can make such a difference.
“One of the ladies I speak to is in her 90s and doesn’t have the internet, so the telephone is an absolute lifeline for her.
“At the minute, everything just feels a bit strange and odd for everyone right now. But when you’re on your own, it is even harder.
“Speaking to them every week brings lightness into my life and theirs, at a time when it can be quite dark and frightening.
“They can sometimes get worried when they hear the news. Actually the news is something they fear.
“But our volunteer training on the myths and facts of the virus has come in really useful, so that I can help put their minds at rest. It’s nice to know I can be there for them and answer any questions they have or point them in the right direction.”
