TEAMS of volunteers are in place across East Lothian doing everything they can to help vulnerable members of their communities.

From collecting shopping and vital prescriptions to dog walking and simply being there for people, the volunteers are there for residents throughout the coronavirus crisis.

Here, we look at five of the groups who are giving up their own time to help out.

East Lothian Courier:

Cockenzie and Port Seton

THE resilience effort in Cockenzie and Port Seton has been helping launch a Fair Share hub at the Port Seton Centre this past week.

The charity Fair Share delivers surplus food from supermarkets to the centre every Friday.

The hub will cover the whole of East Lothian and support the centre’s existing work to provide hot meals and food packs to families in need and children who would usually receive free school meals.

Bryan Hickman, chairman of the local community council, which is leading the resilience effort, said: “We are still delivering food to those who need it but the Fair Share hub has been set up.

“We receive food like coffee, cereal, milk and biscuits but this could change every week.

“It’s really good news that we have set this up as it will help us give other types of food. It will also help us financially because it is free.”

Meanwhile, the resilience effort is continuing to help those in need when requests come in, and currently has about 150 volunteers.

A volunteer has also started offering a dog walking service.

Contact details

Those who require assistance can call the resilience emergency number on 07783 643105. Updates are also posted on the Cockenzie and Port Seton Community Council Twitter (twitter.com/CandPSCC) and Facebook pages (www.facebook.com/Cockenzie-and-Port-Seton-Community-Council-689131087843511).

East Lothian Courier: East SaltounEast Saltoun

Humbie, East and West Saltoun and Bolton

FOUR volunteer groups are operating to help residents of neighbouring rural villages during the coronavirus pandemic.

A resilience group, involving members of the Humbie, East and West Saltoun and Bolton Community Council, was previously formed.

Alastair Beck, community council treasurer, said: “Volunteers in the four village groups are supporting residents in their communities.

“Anyone in need of support, whether for shopping, pharmacy runs, etc, or who would just like someone to talk to should make contact with their village coordinator.”

Contact details

People in Bolton should contact Shena Jamieson on 01620 810239 or by email shenajamieson@aol.com

East Saltoun residents can contact Buffy Neilson on 07798 738372 or buffyneilson@yahoo.co.uk.

In West Saltoun, Derek Smith is the point of contact on 01875 340722 or by emailing coruisk27@gmail.com.

Finally, in Humbie, people are encouraged to call Margo Hodge on 01875 833638 or email humbiehelp20@gmail.com

East Lothian Courier: MacmerryMacmerry

Macmerry and Gladsmuir

A LEAFLET drop to all residents across Macmerry and Gladsmuir last week led to the numbers of calls dealt with by the resilience team double.

The team also offer a hot food service, and requests for this have quadrupled in the past week from two to eight.

Stevie Sutherland, one of the resilience co-ordinators, said: “I definitely envisage this increasing as it develops.

“Some might use it for a couple of days, some might use it for a couple of months.

“Maybe we can give a bit more help, asking if there is anything else they need.

“Neighbours are also looking after one another and they seem to be managing themselves.

“I think most people receiving meals are over 80.

“All that happens is they are getting one hot meal per day. They might not be getting anything else but it’s just making sure they are getting at least one every day.”

Children have also been receiving wool in craft packs and are encouraged to make colourful pom poms, and hang them from their gates or a nearby lamppost.

Stevie said: “The pom poms will start gathering pace now. We’ve also put some posts up about it on social media. “Hopefully we are going to be inundated with them.

“We want both villages to be decorated with as much colour as possible, in support of frontline workers.”

Volunteers at the resilience group are continuing to help with prescription and shopping collections.

Stevie added: “It’s just about getting that help out there.”

Contact details

More information is available on the resilience group’s Facebook and Twitter pages, at facebook.com/groups/554199292116823/ and twitter.com/MacmerryTeam

East Lothian Courier: MusselburghMusselburgh

Musselburgh

AN AVERAGE of 60 lunch packs have been prepared and distributed weekly, as well as a daily distribution of emergency food packs by the growing army of 90 volunteers who make up the Resilient Musselburgh team.

And about 215 free soup and sandwich lunches have been distributed to Whitecraig residents each week, Monday to Friday, by Graham Blaikie, who runs Mercat Grill, helped by Mrs Bennett.

The team is also now providing freshly cooked meals.

Community Councillor Margaret Stewart explained: “Hickory Foods, based at Eskmills, have offered us their kitchen facilities and staff for free to prepare freshly cooked meals which are delivered into the community.

“The staff at the base identify, from referral forms, those who they feel would be most in need and make contact to offer this food support.

“We are trialling this on a two-week basis, where a three-course freshly prepared meal is delivered to those identified for seven days a week.

“This week 287 meals will have been delivered. This support is specifically targeted at vulnerable members of the community, where it is felt that they would benefit from a nutritious meal. All meals are packaged and labelled with instructions for heating.

“This will be reviewed after the first two weeks. However, we have been seeking feedback and, so far, it has been exceptional, with many comments of appreciation and thanks.”

She added: “We are still looking to build on our pool of volunteers to ensure sustainability, so anyone who would be interested in supporting us can register via eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210611/musselburgh_area_partner ship/12491/resilient_musselburgh.”

As well as the £25,000 awarded to the Musselburgh Area Partnership to support the whole community response, Resilient Musselburgh has received a number of funding donations from community groups and organisations.

Volunteers have been delivering information leaflets to households in targeted areas and Councillor Andy Forrest arranged for Musselburgh Post Office to deliver leaflets to all other locations.

Contact details

The Resilient Musselburgh dedicated support number is 07871 729037.

East Lothian Courier: PrestonpansPrestonpans

Prestonpans

DEMAND for assistance from the Prestonpans resilience team increased last week, reflecting both the pressure families are under going into week five of the lockdown, and a wider awareness of the support available to local people.

Allan Sneddon, who is leading the Prestonpans resilience effort, said: “Our volunteers have started providing a dog walking service for several people who are shielding, and this is being co-ordinated on our team leaders’ WhatsApp group. This seems to be working very well.

“The three local Scotmid stores in Prestonpans are offering a free home delivery service and, with the help of our resilience volunteers’ leaflets advertising the service, have been delivering throughout the town. We are also helping to deliver shopping orders.”

The Pantry, operating from the Pennypit, also saw demand for meals increase in week four, with 980 meals delivered to households throughout the town.

The Pantry is receiving lots of practical support in the form of food donations from local stores in the area, and financial donations have been given by the Prestonpans and Cockenzie & Port Seton Community Councils, PSG Area Partnership, Prestonpans British Legion, Prestonpans Labour Club and Longniddry Villa FC.

Prestonpans Community Council have also set aside funds to help households who are struggling to make ends meet; and the Corra Foundation, Scottish Government’s Food Fund, the Prestonpans British Legion and RBL Scotland Pipe Band have made significant donations to this fund.

Contact details

If anyone needs help, they should telephone 07517 715085 or email prestonpansresilience@gmail.com

IF YOUR resilience group would like to purchase copies of the Courier to deliver to residents who are shielding and unable to leave their homes then please email Courier Editor Robbie Scott via rscott@eastlothiancourier.com for details. Copies can be delivered to a destination of your choice before being distributed by your volunteers.