Group activities get the green light at Ormlie Community Association
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Activities at Ormlie Community Association are back up and running as the staff are finally able to return to the office in Thurso.
Project development manager Julie Calder explained that they had not been able to do very much during lockdown with the majority of the staff furloughed. Some digital activities, such as crafts and sports, were carried out online.
"That is us opening back up – we have been delivering our young people groups one night a week meeting out in the community, but will be gong back to three nights a week," she said. "We are using a booking system through our Facebook page."
Those wishing to attend need to message giving the days they want to go along and one of the team from the association will get back to them. This will allow them to make sure numbers are kept within the current Covid-19 guidelines.
Get It, the employability group, runs on a Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9.30am to 1pm with all the activities in the community centre in Henderson Street. This digital access programme is a drop in for anyone surfing for jobs and also provides support to individuals needing help with CVs. Access is given to the internet, computers or printers.
They also have a group for mums in both Thurso and Wick – one day a week in Wick and two days a week in Thurso. The development officer said: "We are going to be extending that so we have mother and toddler groups, delivering activities for children under five three days a week. It is an educational group which might have a speaker in to talk about such things as the benefits of healthy eating."
Presently the mothers meet for a get together and have the use of a room with a separate crèche facility for their young children. In the mother and toddler groups they would remain together for activities such as baby singing and other types of interaction.
Following the last lockdown it was found that some young children were nervous of being left in the crèche and needed time to build up confidence being on their own again.
In addition, the hall is available for hire to the public and anyone in the community can use the facilities at the centre if they need something printed off.
During lockdown two of he staff were kept busy working with Connection Scotland delivering iPads and Chromebooks to locations throughout the county. Doorstep deliveries were carried out with information given on how to use the appliances and support provided. Wi-fi packs were supplied and people were given help on getting set up with them.
The community centre was flooded in February so they have been busy since then getting the building back up and running.
