Wellbeing at the heart of Thurso community response
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Wellbeing is a top priority for Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT) in its response to the coronavirus crisis.
For the past 11 weeks, staff and volunteers have been offering support to residents in Thurso, Halkirk and Caithness West. They have carried out more than 600 shopping trips, collected over 300 prescriptions and delivered more than 2000 hot meals – and have pledged that their service will continue for as long as is necessary.
In addition to helping with basic food and medicine, TCDT has been delivering wellbeing packs to local residents.
Distribution began after the team worked with partners to identify those who would benefit from one of the packs. These include books, CDs, craft activities, sporting equipment and jigsaws, and are suitable for people of all ages.
Thanks to generous donations from local people and organisations, the wellbeing packs can now be distributed more widely to individuals and families who would like one. Requests can be made by calling the Thurso support number (01847 867050) or by filling in a form on the trust's website.
The wellbeing packs are available due to support from Foundation Scotland's Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund, Vinci UK, RES and Top Joes Tartan Army.
Residents can even loan bicycles from the trust if they would like to explore the Thurso area on wheels.
TCDT benefited from a stock of bicycles as part of the Thurso Grows project which is funded by the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund.
The original idea was that the bicycles would be used by Thurso Grows volunteers to travel to the town's community garden. However, given the current situation, the trust can offer them on a short-term loan to residents who would like to give cycling a try.
The trust has also created a Thurso Wellness Facebook group providing information on mindful, creative, educational and physical activities that people of all ages can join in with. It also acts as a social space where participants share what they are grateful for or other resources they’ve found useful.
As part of Thurso Wellness, there is a weekly Great Thurso Bake Off competition. People of all ages are encouraged to bake goodies and send in pictures, and members of the online group then vote for a weekly star baker.
The competition is warming up after three weeks and will run for six weeks before Thurso’s Bake Off champion is decided upon.
Wellbeing request forms are available here
Thurso Grows information can be found here
The Thurso Wellness Facebook group can be found here
