Foundation still going strong in lockdown

JUDITH TONNER

An Airdrie charity is finding new ways to deliver its vital support services to clients while the doors of its expanding centre are closed during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Moira Anderson Foundation is marking its 20th anniversary this year, and among the organisation’s plans for the special year was to unveil a major renovation of its home at Mavisbank Street to provide reconfigured and expanded space.

For now, however, that project has paused and staff at the charity – which supports those who have been affected by childhood sexual abuse – are instead continuing to provide counselling and other services via video calls and phone chats.

Charity director Gillian Urquhart told the Advertiser: “Our service is still running – the only difference is that it isn’t face-toface, but we want everyone to be aware that we’re still very much up and running and providing support.

“We want all our clients to know that we’re still here to support them, as well as any people who are considering coming forward for support, as we can still do that as usual.”

She added: “We ended in-person contact just before lockdown was brought in last month and have all our staff and any volunteers working from home.

“Fortunately we’ve had really good IT support and there’s been very little disruption to our services.

“Phone and video support are being provided, we’re taking calls over Zoom and we’re also still able to keep our group work going as well.

“We’ve adapted well. Video calls are new to us and it might be something we continue to use again in the future if a client can’t make it to the centre for whatever reason.

“Face-to-face contact is undoubtedly the best method, but everyone is adapting at the moment and clients are very understanding of that – we support around 50 clients per week and while there are a few who have opted to wait and get back in touch once the centre reopens, the majority have been happy to take up our phone and video support.”

The charity, which has grown to support more than 400 people a year who have been affected by childhood sexual abuse, is still open to new referrals, with Gillian adding: “People speaking to us for the first time would usually start with a phone call, and that’s still happening at the moment.

“We’d have them speaking with a client support officer, just as would have been the case beforehand with the centre still open, and then take things further at the pace they wanted to. We’re still here to help.”

She added: “The lockdown will have a massive impact on our fundraising, as we were due to have our anniversary concert this month at Sir John Wilson town hall, and we’d have had money from people completing the Kiltwalk for us and other fundraisers that people would have done.”

However, staff and volunteers at the Foundation are already looking ahead to when they may be able to access their centre once again and continue with the building project – part of the charity’s 2020 anniversary appeal – to expand their premises and capacity to support new clients.

Gillian said: “Some of that work has already taken place, as the first phase was reconfiguring some of our existing building and counselling rooms.

“Our second phase was due to be in April, so that will be pushed back but we’re still in contact with the builder and council, and hope it won’t be a lengthy delay and we can push on with that later in the year.”

The Foundation can be found on Facebook and Twitter, and contacted via its website, www.moiraanderson.org, by emailing info@ moiraanderson. org or calling 01236 602890. extremely important that people do not turn up at the assessment centres without an appointment.

“The appointment-only system is part of the precautions we have taken to reduce the risk of exposure to Covid-19 for other members of the public using the buildings and for our staff.

“Each centre has clear signage to ensure patients with an appointment know exactly where to go.

“We understand that this is a very worrying time and we would like to thank everyone in advance for adhering to this advice.”

The two assessment centres are part of local emergency arrangements to help tackle the virus.

They do not have overnight or long-stay patients and anyone who needs to be admitted to hospital will be referred through the normal process.

Patients with Covid- 19 symptoms should not call or visit their GP surgery, but should call NHS 24 on 111.

A free NHS 24 helpline for people without symptoms looking for general information on coronavirus can be contacted on 0800 028 2816, while the dedicated webpage at www. nhsinform.scot/coronavirus is the fastest way to get the latest advice.