‘We took every step to make fundraiser safe’

Reassurances given over COVID rules

Organisers of a fundraiser in a Perthshire village have moved to reassure residents that coronavirus protocols were in place to ensure the safety of supporters.

A charity event in Comrie was organised by parents of Comrie Primary School’s P7 pupils for their Big Day Out ahead of moving up to high school.

While many were pleased to see a semblance of normality return to the village, others were worried that COVID guidelines had been breached – giving rise to some complaints being received by the chair of Comrie Community Council and on the village’s Facebook page.

Alison Graham told our sister title the Strathearn Herald that a lot of preplanning had gone in to holding a safe fundraiser in line with government regulations.

She said: “A lot of thought went into planning the fundraiser.

“We used the farmers’ market model, the Perth one in particular, and each stall was manned by a family group.

“The fundraiser was over a four-hour period and there were only four stalls.

“The stalls were distanced by more than two metres from each other.

“We had wipes on each station and we also had boxes of pens to replace those that had been used.

“There was also hand sanitiser available at two points on each of the stalls, which offered two or three competitions to enter.”

Alison continued: “We weren’t interacting with anyone who felt uncomfortable with it.

“People had to make a conscious decision to actively come into the area we were using and engage with us.

“We didn’t interfere in any way with the normal Saturday morning of the main street.

“It’s been hard for the children this past year.

“We would usually hold a bingo tea which would cover the cost of their day out but obviously this has not been possible this year.”

Comrie Community Council chair Gill Brock is urging locals to be considerate and be aware that some residents are only just beginning to venture outside again after isolating for over a year.

She said: “I can see both sides of this, but there have been many in the village who have had to self-isolate for a very long time - some of the elderly and those with underlying health issues.

“They are just as eager for things to get back to as normal as possible as we all are, but many of them have lost confidence and feel very vulnerable when going out at first.

“Perhaps we could do what Comrie does best and look out for each other.

“Maybe for the first few events held we could remember social distancing and for everyone to wear masks where there are larger groups so everyone can feel safer and hopefully participate.

“We have to remember we are not out of the woods yet.”

We used the farmers’ market model, the Perth one in particular, and each stall was manned by a family group Alison Graham