Glenrothes community centre scoops four awards for amazing work during Covid

The centre was awarded the Special Achievement Award from Youth 1st, Best Community Group, in the Kingdom FM, Local Hero Awards, the Deputy Chief Constable Community Fund Award for those who serve the community, and Rose Duncan, centre manager was voted Local Hero by Stagecoach East Community Hero Award.

The centre is home to a diverse group of clubs, but more recently, due to Covid-19, the centre has served as a crisis centre for some of the most vulnerable in the community.

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the centre was one of the first organisations to adapt and continue with operations to keep providing much needed services to the people of North Glenrothes.

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These services included emergency food provision, befriending services, digital connectivity, mental health services, outdoor activities, and keep fit activities.

Rose Duncan, centre manager said: "To be recognised for all the hard work that the centre has done is wonderful, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

“During the pandemic we have delivered over 1650 emergency food parcels to families and people in the community, as well as any surplus food being distributed to homeless shelters and women’s refuge sheltered housing complexes, and care homes for the elderly.

"Our external community larder operates daily from 9am – 4.30pm and is accessed by the local community on a continuous basis.”

Even though Rose is delighted with winning the awards, she warns that there are troubling times ahead.

“Over the last month, the requests and distribution of food parcels has risen," she adds. “This has demonstrated to us that there may be a rise in the number of people who will need our services.

"There is also likely to be a rise in unemployment when the furlough scheme ends at the end of this month, which will influence the number of individuals seeking support from us.

“I have spoken to many centre users over the last seven months, and explored with them what they feel the challenges are for people within their communities – it is still abundantly clear that the centre will be responding to increased levels of need due to the continued pandemic.”

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