Tuned in to keep spirits up
Midlothian charity team hosted a weekly radio show during lockdown with the A.I.M of entertaining and informing, writes
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the British Red Cross team in Midlothian devised a particularly clever way to provide support for the vulnerable and isolated.
Faced with being unable to provide their vital face-to-face support, the charity’s local area co-ordinators took to the airwaves instead.
They worked with local radio station Black Diamond FM to create a weekly radio show, featuring interviews with speakers from a range of organisations, alongside music, short stories and poem presentations.
Called A.I.M – which stands for Activities, Information and Motivation – the radio show kept its growing listenership up to date with news concerning vaccinations, tips on how to remain active and healthy during lockdown, and lots of muchneeded smiles.
The radio programme was the brainchild of Chris Maguire, British Red Cross local area co-ordinator for Midlothian, and his team.
He recalls: “After Covid hit we were initially overwhelmed with requests to help out with shopping support, collecting prescriptions, and so on.
“Once the initial response was over, we had to look at ways of adapting our role in providing support to people struggling with loneliness and isolation even more due to lockdown.
“Since we couldn’t meet people in person, we had to look at ways that we could bring support to people. That is when we came up with the idea for a radio show.”
It was much more than just that though, as the team also produced activity packs to help get listeners through the long and boring weeks of lockdown.
One listener, Joan, 77, from Midlothian, was particularly fond of the show’s short stories. She says tuning into A.I.M helped keep her spirits up during the difficult days of the pandemic.
“The Red Cross programme was lovely to listen to. It was a constant in
your life. It was cheerful,” she says. “The show was almost like a visitor, and it was very informative.”
Joan adds that, because A.I.M featured local information and guests – her own doctor offered on-air advice related to flu vaccinations – the show felt even more personal.
Marie Hayes, British Red Cross director in Scotland for independent living and crisis, says: “A.I.M is a shining example of community spirit we have seen in the past year, and the importance of human connections, which is the cornerstone for how the British Red Cross carries out its work.”
The charity works in communities across the UK offering a wide range of support, including wheelchair and mobility aids, First Aid courses, and mental health support to services for the isolated and lonely.
Launched more than 150 years ago, the charity is also renowned for its vital international work.
Thanks to gifts left in wills, the British Red Cross can continue providing support to vulnerable people at home and further afield, responding quickly to emergencies in places around the world.
To find out more, visit the website at www.redcross.org.uk/freewill, or telephone 0300 500 0401.
The programme was lovely to listen to... almost like a visitor, and it was very informative