Beauty Kitchen cooks up support
A Wishaw-based group, recently awarded charitable status, is wasting no time in getting to work in the community.
Representatives from Go Together, based at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Belhaven Terrace, dropped into Chris’s House recently to donate products kindly supplied by Wishaw company Beauty Kitchen.
These will be provided to visitors, guests and clients at the facility which provides support to people in crisis.
Go Together also welcomed visitors from another Lanarkshire charity recently; Blameless, which supports children and families affected by addiction.
The Wishaw group was recently confirmed as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SCIO).
The group have set out to build “Unity in our Community” and provide help to people who are isolated, elderly, disabled, or struggling for any reason to get through every day tasks that so many take for granted.
They can help with costs for electricity and gas, shopping runs, food provision, grass cutting and garden tidying for the elderly or those with disabilites, and a host of other things.
A key focus of their work is helping local people who are recovering from addiction issues. Lead volunteer Garry King (senior), said: “We are trying to get to hardto-reach groups during these times, and give them something that can pick their spirits up a wee bit.
“We’ve linked up with Beauty Kitchen and they have promised they will give us some of their products every six months for us to distribute.
“We’ve visited Chris’s House and a few of the homeless places run by North Lanarkshire Council and dropped in a couple of batches to them as well.
“We’re in the process of trying to get some funding. We’ve still been dropping off food packages and kids’ clothes to people who are feeling the pinch, and the odd bit of furniture here and there.
“We have a wee helpline set up and we’re receiving calls from folk who are struggling with their mental health, or addiction problems, or are just overthinking. It’s a bit like the Samaritans’ kind of thing but they can speak to people with firsthand experience of these issues.
“It’s a two-way thing as we are keeping ourselves active and helping ourselves while helping others.
“It’s a proven way to do it. You can keep yourself in a good place by lifting the phone and helping someone who is struggling.”
Garry is also hopeful that when restrictions are loosened the group can get back fully to St Andrew’s Church and continue with some building work they’ve started there.
To get in touch with the group you can call 07927 751576 or email: go-together@hotmail.com