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 four of the groups who are giving up their own time to help out.
Dirleton
MIXED news has been delivered by the Dirleton Area Resilience Team (DART).
The group has been in charge of resilience efforts in the village during the coronavirus pandemic.
It has had to move the community essentials larder from the village’s primary school to the nearby Castle Inn.
David Tait, lead co-ordinator of DART, said it was a temporary measure and they were looking for new premises.
The larder operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 2-4pm.
The booking line also remains the same as before, on 01620 850077.
David said: “Although I am disappointed that we have had to move, this is a temporary solution and we will be looking to move again towards the end of June.”
Meanwhile, DART successfully launched its website last week and have been amazed by the response so far.
Previously, they have been able to use the mailing lists of the Dirleton Village Association (DVA) and Dirleton Good Neighbours (DGN) to distribute information.
David added: “Now that we have an established website and our own emailing system, we are establishing our own mailing list.
“Residents of the community who would like to continue to receive the DART newsletter and other information from DART are asked to send an email to news@dirletonresilience.org asking to join the mailing list.
“Contact details will only be used for purposes of sending DART items and will not be shared with any other parties.
“It should be noted, however, that DART newsletters will no longer be sent out using the DGN emailing lists.”
Contact details
For more information, go to www.dirletonresilience.org
Dunbar
THE Dunbar resilience volunteers are asking for donations of unwanted laptops and computer tablets.
The group, which was formed at the beginning of the lockdown period and has helped people in need by collecting shopping and prescriptions, last week launched the appeal for laptops and tablets to pass on to schoolchildren who are still home learning.
George Robertson, chairman of Dunbar and East Linton Area Partnership (DELAP), has been heavily involved in the volunteering efforts during the past twoand-a-half months.
He said: “I currently have about 17 devices ready for distribution via the schools, and will put out another appeal via Facebook later today.
“It is important to reassure people that their personal data is not at risk when handing in an old laptop.
“After thorough external cleaning of the device, including the keyboard screen and touchpad, it is first of all booted from a USB stick then the entire hard drive is wiped to remove the old Windows installation and any personal data files.
“The laptop is then reloaded with the Linux Mint operating system, together with all applications relevant for educational use.
“Occasionally some hardware TLC is needed to get things working properly.
“When this process is complete, the old laptops have a new lease of life and are perfectly useable for online lessons.
“They can connect to the internet via wi-fi if this is available in the household or via Bluetooth to a smartphone if not.
“Most come with worn out batteries so can only be used when connected to the mains.”
George, who is also a member of the town’s community council, said iPads could also be donated to the cause.
The team have three already, which have been restored to factory settings and had all personal data removed.
The devices will be handed to the town’s schools in the coming week and it will be up to staff to determine where they are most needed.
Last week, George told the Courier: “Very often, you find in a particular family they might have one laptop shared between several kids and all competing for it. “In one or two households, they might not have any devices at all that they can access the internet on.”
Contact details
To find out more, e-mail Dunbar.covid19@gmail.com or call 07568 316842.
For more information, go to Dunbar and District Coronavirus Community Helpers at facebook.com/groups/2770007929781573 or Dunbar Community Council at facebook.com/DunbarCommunityCouncil
Dunpender
ASSISTANCE remains on offer to anyone in need of help in East Linton and the surrounding villages.
Judith Priest, chairwoman of Dunpender Community Council, which covers Tyninghame and Whitekirk, as well as East Linton, said very little had changed from a resilience point of view in the past seven days.
Volunteers have given up their time to assist people in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
Shopping has been collected, while prescriptions can also be picked up and, last month, special VE Day boxes were also delivered to some residents.
Contact details
The community is being kept updated with information posted on the Tyninghame Village Hall website – www.tyninghamevillagehall.org.uk – as well as at www.eastlinton.uk.com.
People can also call 07514 136334 or 07933 709745.
North Berwick
A NEW project to provide computer tablets for residents at North Berwick care homes, to enable them to see and speak to relatives online, has been launched.
Funding for the tablets has been provided by Foundation Scotland’s Community Response Fund, which awarded a £3,000 grant to North Berwick Community Council to support the North Berwick Resilience fund, set up by community council chairwoman Judy Lockhart in March.
The grant has been provided to enable residents in North Berwick care homes to maintain contact with family during isolation.
Community council chairwoman Judy said: “We are delighted that the money is being put to such good use, enabling residents to communicate with their loved ones even in lockdown.
“Being able to see them makes a huge difference.”
North Berwick Resilience Group has been working in partnership with North Berwick Rotary Club on the project, and the first two tablets have been presented to Astley House nursing home in the town.
Rotary Club member Richard Rogers said Astley House was a pilot project and, depending on the results, it should be rolled out to other care homes.
He said: “It is aimed at residents who have not been allowed to meet up with relatives due to the coronavirus restrictions. The tablets can also be used for other things such as playing music and watching videos.
“Rotary has maintained contact with Astley House by providing links to interesting video programmes for residents, and will be following up to get feedback on how user-friendly and useful the staff working with residents are finding this project.
“The club is also looking at an exciting initiative to allow volunteers to continue to serve the community post Covid – watch this space!”
Community council member Ian Watson sourced the first batch of Samsung tablets and the Rotary Club acquired the chargers.
Meanwhile, North Berwick Resilience Group is continuing with its project aimed at supplying face coverings to those who need them most in the community.
Volunteer Khlayre Cairney, who is co-ordinating the project, says if people have access to a sewing machine and would like to get involved in creating the coverings, they should get in touch by sending an email to community resilience@northberwickcommunitycouncil.org.uk
Contact details
As usual, if residents need help with shopping or prescriptions they can go to www.nbresilience.com or phone 07745 636441.
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