The latest from voluntary organisations across Scotland #NeverMoreNeeded
The Beatroute goes on
Despite lockdown Beatroute Arts is keeping a community connected. The charity in Balornock, North Glasgow, provides a wide range of arts and holistic activities for its community which are developed in direct response to local need. Founded in 1990, within the 10% most disadvantaged regions in Scotland, Beatroute started by providing music lessons for young people. The participant led approach has been the backbone of the charity’s success and also the key to the transformative results as young participants gain so much more than music skills. Self confidence, interpersonal skills and for many the stepping stones to a new life are being discovered at Beatroute Arts.
Now providing yoga, music tuition, songwriting lessons and for those with additional needs music, art and crafts classes, the team of five at Beatroute with the help of upwards of 18 freelance specialists and creatives support over 300 people in the community developing resources and programmes led by those taking part. Like other building based organisations the coronavirus pandemic threatened to derail the charity’s vital work but a creative approach combined with a willingness to meet participants where they were, saw the team at Beatroute get iPads to those who needed them to move online and instruments so participants can practice and participate online.
Jenny Reeve, director of Beatroute Arts, said: “Music is a great way to bring people together and group learning is a great way for young people to learn and develop music alongside other key skills. Quite often, they learn the fundamentals including numeracy, literacy, listening skills and working as a team before they even pick up an instrument.”
Given the current challenges with the coronavirus pandemic, Jenny says staying connected has never been more important. She explained: “All our services have now moved online. For those who are more socially disconnected, it has been a lifeline. As an organisation, we are supporting everyone the best we can. For those who don’t go online, we are checking in on the phone also.
“Take a Bow has been the last project to transition online because we have a lot of young people and families whose English is their second language. We didn’t want to resume the project online until everyone could join in, which we have finally done. The reaction has been great – parents have been especially positive. The online sessions give everyone something to look forward to and those that need it have instruments at home so they can keep practicing.”
Scouts offer support to care home residents
Kind hearted scouts from Rosyth have been delivering greetings cards to care home residents with a teabag and biscuits enclosed so that they can share a virtual cup of tea together, some of the group have even made paper flowers for the residents.
The group are doing this as part of The Scouts Care for Care Homes campaign, with young people across the UK aiming to undertake 10,000 acts of kindness to help reduce social isolation and loneliness for care home residents. Care for Care Homes is in partnership with British Red Cross and has been welcomed by the National Care Association. The scouts from Rosyth have already sent around 80 cards (to a mixture of care homes and isolated and vulnerable adults who are at home) and have even made a video about their initiative. The cards were made, gathered by volunteers and after a period of quarantine, delivered to the care homes.
Terry O’Neill, a volunteer with Rosyth Scouts, said: “I am extremely proud of all of our young people and volunteers, who despite the challenges that have been sent their way recently, tackling school from home, working from home and caring for family members, they have continued to show all of the values that Scouting promotes and in the case of caring for care homes, thought about those that are most vulnerable in our communities.”
Dawn Wallace, manager of Cedar House, said: “The Beaver Scouts from 46th Fife in Cowdenbeath delivered beautiful handmade cards with tea bags and chocolate biscuits for all the residents at Cedar House, which really cheered everybody up during lock down.”
Karen Bell, manager of Benarty View, said: “The residents at Benarty View were delighted and touched that the cubs from Kelty had thought about them. The staff put the cards on display in the living area for all to enjoy.”
Social distancing support needed for visually impaired
Ruth Maguire MSP has called for extra support to be given to visually impaired people to help follow social distancing guidelines in supermarkets following concerns being raised locally and by leading organisations.
This comes after a nationwide survey by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) found that three in four people with visual impairments are concerned about getting access to food with one in five even having to ration food.
The survey also found that over 65% of respondents have had difficulty in securing a supermarket delivery slot.
The SNP MSP for Cunninghame South said: “It’s clear that measures taken by supermarkets to ensure the safety of staff and customers, while worthwhile, have impacted on the independence of blind and visually impaired people in North Ayrshire and across Scotland.
“Guide dogs are not trained to recognise socially distanced queues or one way system markings on shop floors. Perspex barriers at checkouts are also proving a challenge for people with visual impairments who are looking to do their food shopping.
“I’d like to call on the Scottish Government to take advice from the RNIB on how best to make adjustments that accommodate the needs of people with visual impairments during this crisis. In the mean time I would also like to call on the public to give due care and attention to people with guide dogs to allow them extra space in supermarkets.”
James Adams, director of sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, said: "We have been pressing for a referral system to give vulnerable people with sight loss priority access to supermarket delivery slots. Many usually rely on others to guide them by the arm, but can't under social distancing guidelines. Getting about independently is now more difficult when you can't judge if you are in too close proximity to someone else, and the indicators which tell you where to queue and stand are largely visual.
"We are calling for government to give guidance to businesses and the general public on what can be done to help blind and partially sighted people social distance safely. We do appreciate the importance of distancing to contain the spread of the coronavirus. We just need to make sure people with sight loss don't end up becoming prisoners of lockdown and deprived of essentials."
Nurses go the extra mile
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, one of the Ward 4A Road Runners 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.”
Support the Ward 4A Road Runners through their JustGiving fundraising page.
