Lockdown impact ‘has been severe’

DUNDEE Therapy Garden, which aims to re-integrate isolated former armed forces and emergency service workers, says the impact of lockdown on its clients has been “severe”.

The garden was forced to close in April and the charity’s therapists – both whom previously served in the Army – opted to run online video services during that time.

It was reopened to the group on May 25, however its indoor space where veterans are usually provided with one hot, sociable meal together every day remains closed for the foreseeable future.

Alexander Lyell, the charity’s chairman, said: “Some of our veterans have illness and are shielding, they are all vulnerable and some don’t want to get on public transport.

“It’s going to be a good bit before we can get them all around a table to have a meal together again – maybe even a year as we’re really talking about post vaccination or when testing is more widespread and reliable.”

The charity also grows its own food used for the sociable meals and to educate veterans of the benefit of healthy eating but that side of the project has been halted until the group is able to socialise indoors again.

Alexander said: “That’s an important part of what we do, some of these guys are living on their own eating pies and beans, they are not good eaters and we show them the virtue of fresh food and vegetables and they love it, but we can’t do that just now.”

In preparation for winter, those at the garden have been clearing out a plastic poly tunnel with the intention of installing heaters and seating in there to provide a safe space for clients to continue to socialise.