Let’s get ready to tumble dry – as Shopper-Aide expands
A decade since it was founded, Kintyre charity ShopperAide now offers older people more services than ever before, thanks to an expansion sparked by moving premises.
Employees of the charity this week washed, dried, ironed and folded the first loads of washing through its new laundry service, after moving its headquarters from a former retail shop on Longrow to a unit at Snipefield Industrial Estate.
The new Launder-Aide venture offers a same-day laundry and ironing service, with pickup and delivery included.
‘We had been looking for new premises for some time and the unit has everything we need,’ said Joan Stewart, ShopperAide project manager.
The building has been altered to suit Shopper-Aide’s needs, with the creation of a reception/office space, a group meeting room, a private office and accessible toilets, in addition to the laundry room that was already in the building.
There is also a kitchen where Shopper-Aide hopes to make soup which will be sold to the public twice a week.
While there are still some small additions to be made to the building, Joan said Andrew Smith, Shopper-Aide’s new landlord, and local tradesmen who have carried out work so far, have been ‘brilliant’ in helping get things up and running.
When Shopper-Aide was first set up, to help people aged 60 and over with their grocery shopping, it was dependent on external funders to operate and pay staff salaries.
Over the years, as it began to offer more services including household support, a befriending service and organising social clubs like Elderberries and Garry’s Gang according to clients’ needs and abilities, the charity introduced new initiatives to help generate its own funds.
These include selling crafts created by clients at its art and crafts clubs and donated second-hand books and other items.
The importance of ShopperAide has been highlighted during the Covid pandemic, with its outstanding work in the community earning it a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the UK’s highest award for volunteers.
During the first lockdown, the charity’s shopping client-base more than doubled, but an influx of volunteers who were unable to work due to Covid restrictions supported the charity to cope with the increased demand.
Volunteers also helped Shopper-Aide to continue providing entertainment to older people throughout lockdown, despite not being able to hold its regular groups, by organising virtual afternoon teas and quizzes and a poetry competition.
A ‘Phone Buddies’ system was also set up, offering oneto-one phone calls to clients.
The charity encouraged its clients to knit squares as part of its ‘lockdown blankets’ project.
These were then sewed into blankets which have been donated to three different charities to help homeless people.
‘During lockdown, it was brought to our attention that it wasn’t only older people with difficulties who struggled,’ Joan said. ‘Everyone felt loneliness. To that end, we want to invite everyone, including older people, to come and help us at Shopper-Aide, to help support their community.
‘Our volunteers come from all walks of life and are truly tremendous. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them.
‘Just an hour a week of someone’s spare time would make an amazing difference to us.’
Shopper-Aide is looking for volunteers across all areas of the charity’s work, although it should be noted that people must be aged 26 or over to drive Shopper-Aide’s vehicles.
Garry’s Gang, a men-only group that meets twice a week, was the first to resume when Covid restrictions allowed.
One attendee told ShopperAide staff: ‘I’m not going to die of Covid, I’m going to die of loneliness.’
That is why the charity is keen to restart its social groups as soon as possible, initially in bubbles to ensure safety.
‘The last two years, we’ve been on hold, the same as the rest of society,’ said Joan, ‘but we’re starting to open our wings and are looking forward to getting back to the new normal.’
Shopper-Aide has three full-time and 12 part-time staff who assist and coordinate volunteers.
‘Our staff are very committed,’ Joan said.
‘They all do a brilliant job and go above and beyond what’s asked of them.
‘The Shopper-Aide family is committed to supporting each other, and we want to become more resilient should something like Covid ever happen again.’
As well as volunteering, people can also support the charity by becoming a ‘Shopper-Aide Friend’ by donating £10 a year in return for newsletters and the knowledge that they’re supporting a charity within the community.
Call 01586 551600 or visit Shopper-Aide’s website or Facebook page for more information on the new laundry service or to support the charity.
‘I’m not going to die of Covid, I’m going to die of loneliness.’