News around the country on charities during the crisis
Edinburgh Zoo set to reopen
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland will be ready to reopen Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park by the end of June if lockdown eases further and has warned that being closed over the summer months could be “financially disastrous”. A wide range of safety measures to protect visitors and staff is being put in place by the wildlife conservation charity, which has had to borrow £5 million due to the coronavirus pandemic and the closure of both parks. Chief Executive David Field, who joined RZSS from the Zoological Society of East Anglia this week, said, “We are talking to the Scottish Government and hope we can reopen within the next few weeks if Scotland moves into the next phase of lockdown and outdoor attractions can open again. “Concerns have been raised by zoos in England which have been told the earliest they can reopen is in July, even though private gardens have already opened. Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park have large outdoor spaces and we can reopen safely by introducing social distancing, closing indoor areas, limiting visitor numbers and selling tickets online with time slots. Zoos with these covid-secure restrictions will be just as safe as private gardens and far safer than a crowded beach or public park.”
Reassurance for elderly tenants
Older tenants in Scotland are getting extra security and peace of mind in their homes during the coronavirus crisis. Wheatley, Scotland's leading housing, property management and care group, is introducing a further 200 elderly tenants in mainstream homes to their “OK Each Day” service using an AlertaCall phone. The system involves older tenants confirming all is well with them every day by pressing a button on their AlertaCall phone. If a tenant doesn’t check in by a certain time, AlertaCall staff call them. If there’s still no contact, family or emergency contacts are alerted. Wheatley’s Group Director of Housing and Care, Olga Clayton, said: “We’re doing all we can to support vulnerable tenants during the pandemic. This is a good example of how older tenants, often cut off from family and friends, are receiving extra support and reassurance.”
Show must go on
The prestigious national 2020 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration were launched online. The Awards are delivered each year by SURF, a regeneration forum with over 300 cross-sector member organisations across Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government. The purpose is to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland. They will have a particular focus, where relevant, on rewarding and showcasing projects who have adapted, or created, services to support their communities through the Covid-19 crisis. Projects can be judged on up to two years of previous activity, and will not be negatively scored for failing to deliver planned activities for 2020 which were impacted by Covid-19.This year’s five thematic categories include; Supporting Youth Employability sponsored by Skills Development Scotland, Creative Regeneration sponsored by Creative Scotland, Community Led Regeneration sponsored by Highlands and Island Enterprise, Scotland’s Most Improved Place sponsored by Scotland’s Towns Partnership and Architecture & Design Scotland and finally Housing and Regeneration sponsored by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.
Big hearted ward runners
Four Scottish nurses have raised over £2,500 for charity to help keep children safe through the coronavirus crisis. Rachel Bryson, Allana Tonner, Sharon Birtles and Jay Forbes work together at University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock. After taking up running during lockdown, they decided to help others through their new hobby. They formed a team called ‘The Ward 4A Road Runners’ and started training in between long shifts at the hospital. The nurses chose to help children and families who have been affected by the restrictions of lockdown and the coronavirus. At the end of May they ran a sponsored 10K to raise funds for Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity. Children 1st has continued to provide practical and emotional support to children and families throughout the current crisis. Rachel Bryson said: “At this moment in time young children suffering abuse quietly or living in domestic abuse households have no outreach, such as school, to free their minds and escape to. We wanted to support families affected by the COVID-19 outbreak – many of which are struggling mentally and financially, and facing increasing risks to children at home. Fundraising and doing the run has been a great experience. We’re really grateful to everyone who has supported us and donated to such a good cause.”
Businessman reaches out
For the past five years Bill Roddie, managing director of Glasgow-based family-owned business, Spectrum Properties, has funded an annual trip to the pantomime for up to 100 vulnerable youngsters and their families. But, with no sign of pantomimes being performed any time soon, the big-hearted businessman has instead donated £1,500 in Aldi food vouchers to the youngsters’ parents, guardians, and carers. Colin McGowan, chairman of Blameless, the Lanarkshire based charity formed to provide fun times, happy memories, and a vision of hope for the children and families of those suffering from addiction, is the organiser of the annual event. He said: “When Bill realised that the Covid-19 pandemic meant there is unlikely to be a pantomime season this year, he decided to accelerate the timing of his annual donation by providing Aldi food vouchers to the same value to help families who are finding life more difficult than usual.” Roddie, whose business provides high quality business centre space, said: “In these unprecedented times, delivering food and essential supplies to loved ones is difficult. As the effects of Coronavirus continue to disrupt family life, it is clear we are all in this together. This donation is intended simply to give a helping hand to vulnerable people who may be struggling to get by”.
