The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Courier kindness campaign gathering momentum.
As The Courier Kindness Campaign gathers momentum, local charities tell Richard Burdge and Craig Smith what they’re doing to combat loneliness and why they are backing The Courier Kindness Campaign.
Acharity that provides tea, cake and company to older people who live alone is backing the Courier Community Kindness Campaign. “It is an absolutely great idea and so worthwhile,” said Jennifer Kaney of Contact the Elderly.
The initiative is encouraging Courier readers to cut out the coupon on this page for a free paper and then offer the paper to someone who is on their own, isolated or vulnerable.
Contact the Elderly recently launched its latest group in Perth. It organises free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties, turning loneliness into friendship for almost 900 people throughout Scotland.
Volunteer drivers collect guests and accompany them to a volunteer host’s home, where they enjoy hot drinks, biscuits, sandwiches and conversation.
Development officer Ms Kaney said the charity and The Courier’s efforts were attempting to address the same issues.
“As people get older, it can become more difficult to get out and about and many find themselves spending more and more time at home alone,” she said.
“Our parties are here for them to have something to enjoy. Our volunteers have a fantastic time and loneliness is very quickly turned into friendship.”
To find out more about becoming a guest or volunteer of Contact the Elderly locally, email Jennifer.kaney@ contact-the-elderly.org.uk or call 01786 235034.
The Courier Community Kindness Campaign also caught the eye of social security minister Jeane Freeman, who said the Scottish Government had invested £500,000 in a social isolation and loneliness fund which helps community-based projects.
“I want to fully support the Courier’s Community Kindness Campaign and encourage us all to stop for a minute and think about how any one of us could make life a wee bit better, especially for older people in our communities who might be feeling lonely,” she said.
“It doesn’t take much – a cup of tea with an elderly neighbour, a smile and ‘hello’, taking their bins in or just stopping for a blether – all of it can make a huge difference to how they feel, a little less lonely and part of their own neighbourhood again.” Meal Makers Few projects embody the ethos of The Courier’s Community Kindness Campaign than a community foodsharing scheme in north Fife that is set to spread across the region.
Meal Makers connects people who love cooking (cooks) with older neighbours (diners) who would appreciate having some home-cooked food delivered to them – as well as some much-needed company.
“Maggie makes some really delicious dishes”, said Meal Makers diner Pam about her cook.
“But it isn’t just about the food, it’s about friendship, too.
“It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s something I really look forward to each week.”
Project manager Emma Black said it is easy to see how a freshly prepared meal taken to someone’s home can make a world of difference to some people’s lives.
“It is a simple idea that brings communities together, creates friendships and most importantly, gets people enjoying good food,” she said.
To find out more about Meal Makers call 0800 783 7770, email hello@ mealmakers.org.uk or visit www. mealmakers.org.uk Saint-like With St Andrew’s Day just around the corner, Fifers are being urged to do a good deed in the spirit of Scotland’s patron saint to celebrate the country’s history, culture and the nation’s shared values.
The #BeLikeStAndrew campaign fits in perfectly with The Courier Kindness Campaign by encouraging everyone to carry out a little act of kindness on the day itself, November 30, to reflect the patron saint’s reputation for being kind, compassionate and helping the less well off.
And with those behind that initiative also backing The Courier’s Community Kindness Campaign, the hope is hundreds of people across Fife will do their bit in reaching out to help vulnerable members of society.
Charity partners Prince’s Trust Scotland, Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and Crisis Scotland have joined the Scottish Rugby Union and Stoats natural porridge products to back the #BeLikeStAndrew campaign.
And organisers hope November 30 will see something special happening across Scotland.
The Campaign to End Loneliness wants Fifers to visit someone who would appreciate company on the day – very much tying in with what The Courier’s campaign is doing – while Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland is asking everyone to clear a bag of clothes or items out of their wardrobe to donate on November 30.
“Our volunteers havea fantastic time and loneliness is turned into friendship