Home   News   Article

Findhorn groups unite to help vulnerable in the community


By Garry McCartney

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
The James Milne Institute, a meeting place for many groups in Findhorn, has been closed until further notice.
The James Milne Institute, a meeting place for many groups in Findhorn, has been closed until further notice.

THREE organisations in a local village have joined ranks to support the more vulnerable members of their community.

The Findhorn Village Conservation Company, Findhorn Residents Association, and Findhorn and Kinloss Community Council have set up a messaging group focused on helping with shopping and prescription collection, as well as dog walking, telephone chats and other support during the coronavirus lockdown.

Former Moray Councillor, Anne Skene, has been impressed by the response.

She said: "At the beginning of the lockdown, leaflets were posted through every letterbox in Findhorn and the older village part of Kinloss with information on how people could be helped.

"A WhatsApp group has been set up for volunteers to offer services and they can be matched with requests from the community. It is working well."

There are more than 40 volunteers, as well as 14 people making scrubs.

"Patterns have been printed on paper, suitable material cut up and put into packs including instructions and thread, and then passed on to others to sew. This has demonstrated how different skills in a small village have come together to make a valuable contribution to the NHS at this time."

Villagers have been sharing of seedlings, flowers, vegetable, plants and seed potatoes for folk keen to get started on gardens who cannot shop for the items.

There have also been numerous befriending conversations.

Mrs Skene explained: "People phone a volunteer to request shopping or prescription collection and spend 20 minutes on the phone in conversation, often seeking reassurance. The volunteers take the time to chat as these chats are important for isolated people.

"One of the oldest and ‘shielded’ residents was 92 the other day and a group of neighbours went along to her house to sing 'Happy Birthday' at a safe distance from where she was standing at her back door.

"These small acts of kindness can make a notable difference to those who need a bit of extra support."



Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More