New Glenrothes community group is helping to combat social-isolation

The registered charity started from humble beginnings at the 50th Woodside Scout Hall operating a drop in cafe, offering people in the community a hot filled roll and a warm drink.

The hub went on to run an adults art and craft class, and children’s and toddlers group, but due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic it has had to postpone the lattter to halt any spread of the virus.

Christine Buist, co-founder, set up the group with three others after feeling that their community had been forgotten about.

She said: “We set up the hub last month to act as a support network and to give people in the community a place to go if they are suffering from loneliness and or affected by poverty.

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"We were awarded £2000 Lottery funding to provide healthy snacks for our toddler group, supplies for our craft group and to hold outdoor activities. Unfortunately we have had to put our kids groups on hold due to Covid, which is a shame as we had great interest in it.

"We are still running our free adult craft classes with Mary and Moira as we are able to maintain effective social-distancing.

"We are also currently having a ‘coat for everyone’ drive where we are taking donations of coats at the scout hall as Glenrothes Foodbank has stopped taking them.”

Christine, a retired early years officer and long time community volunteer, knows of the adverse effects that comes with loneliness and isolation and says that the hub will focus on these issues.

"A lot of people who are isolated are missing human contact,” she added. “Our craft classes give people a chance to get out of the house and to come for a cup of tea or coffee and have a blether.

"There are a few carers who attend our classes and they say it is like having a respite break to be able to get away for a little while and unwind.

"It really does their confidence the world of good, and gives them the chance learn new skills and to create something that they can call their own.”

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