Community / Cash to help ease lockdown for Northmavine community
THE COMMUNITY of Northmavine is to receive £14,000 from a Scottish Government fund to help support it through the next six months.
The money has been secured by Northmavine Community Development Company (NCDC) and comes from the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) administered Scottish Government Supporting Communities fund.
Following consultation, NCDC concluded the greatest community need was to support public health, with the focus on ensuring folk can eat well throughout the period of isolation and shielding, said project officer Cynthia Poleson.
NCDC is working with the Brae Foodbank to offer any Northmavine household in need of support a weekly “top up” of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish.
NCDC chairman John-Alex Cromarty said: “If you are struggling to eat well just now or know someone who could do with some help please get in touch and we can get you the fresh food top up you require.
“As ever, in Northmavine the community is pulling together to support one another and NCDC are here to help everyone get the support they need”.
In tandem NCDC “is keen to support the community’s mental health through this uncertain time.”
The Peerie Voar Kit was created and delivered to every household in Northmavine. The package contained a grow your own kit of edible plant seeds with instructions on growing them and a voucher to purchase pots, compost and suchlike from local outlets, as well as fresh fruit and veg. It also contained soap handmade in Northmavine to remind folk of the very important message to wash hands and fight the spread of Covid-19.
Poleson said: “My sitting room started to look like a mail room and schooling became a ‘project’ of setting soaps out in rows and filling envelopes! 350 later and we had done it.”
People who would like to access the food top up should contact Poleson by calling or texting 07766 733465 or by private messaging through the NCDC Facebook page.
Alternatively, folk can contact the foodbank on 07796 807265 by phone or by text. NCDC will then arrange a weekly top up suited to each household.
The service is “completely confidential”. People may also get help with other things such as collection of medicines, shopping or dog walking.
“If you would like to help by volunteering for NCDC we would be delighted to hear from you,” said Poleson.
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