Village is ready for life after lockdown
Kirknewton pulling together
Community leaders in a West Lothian village are preparing for the impact of Covid- 19 beyond lockdown.
Kirknewton Community Development Trust and other groups such as the community council and a team of volunteers have been supporting people over the last six months.
The groups say they want to thank everyone who has helped in some way.
But as hardship continues because of the pandemic, they are aware that many people are facing extra costs staying at home, may have lost their job and are finding it difficult to find another, are facing redundancy once furlough ends or are finding life difficult financially and in some cases mentally too.
Volunteers are now reaching out to people in their community to let them know they are not alone.
A spokesperson said: “Kirknewton Community Development Trust, other community groups such as the community council and a team of volunteers, will work together and endeavour to support each other during this time.
“KCDT plan to share support and help for people, advertise jobs and support local business where we can.
“On many of our projects we have engaged local businesses to support them through Covid- 19 and believe this could be extended with local business to business working together.
“The Larder and Community Fridge usage is increasing and we hope to maintain it until at least January 2021.
“It’s being used by people who need to supplement their weekly shop, who are struggling as they need extra supplies for school age kids and adults working from home and people who need a little extra help (including many who have never needed it before).
“Please use it if you need to. Hours will change, with an early evening opening on Mondays and an earlier Thursday morning opening.
“We are also enhancing local and healthy food with fresh bread, eggs, veg bags, wholefoods, soup recipe bags and many other items through Festival Stores. You may have seen the new wholefoods unit in Kirknewton Festival Stores which will be stocked soon.”
Given the current situation, Kirknewton Community Skills and Volunteer Audit will be brought forward to see what skills are in the village and bring people together to help each other or open up opportunities to enhance CVs.
You can share your skills and help inspire people young and old to take up a new hobby or explore a new goal. You can fill in the survey before the end of August here https://www. surveymonkey. co. uk/ r/ kirkyskills
The Kirknewton Business Directory is also being updated and businesses to submit their information at https://www. surveymonkey. co. uk/ r/ kirkybiz .
The spokesperson cont i nued: “We wi l l promote your business to the community via social media, give opportunities to give discounts via the Community Card, provide low cost advertising in the newsletter, encourage and facilitate business to business working, direct you to potential funding and support streams (we have done this in the past) and hope we can help maintain your business and hopefully in the future you will be able to provide employment and opportunities for people who need it.
“The Kirk newton Business survey can be found here https:// www. surveymonkey. co. uk/ r/ kirkybiz – this applies to you if you live in Kirknewton and East Calder/ Calderwood and own a business here or elsewhere.
If you simply need to talk to someone we are here. If you have an idea you’d like to take forward we are here to guide you. It’s good to talk face to face, and we will help support you in any way we can. We need your help too as we can’t achieve this level of support alone.”