In the early stages of the Coronavrius (COVID-19) pandemic, South Lanarkshire Active Schools teamed up with South Lanarkshire Council’s Education Resources to support the front-line response in the form of emergency childcare hubs.
As part of this, Active Schools coordinators were deployed to the hubs to deliver a range of fun sport-related activities to vulnerable children and children of key workers.
Supporting the community
At the Rutherglen Hub, which was based at Calderwood Primary School in the Stonelaw Learning Community, Active Schools coordinators Josh Anderson and Michelle Carmichael coordinated a food parcel initiative alongside senior educational psychologist Craig Thomson.
#PlayingOurPart | Our Active Schools Coordinators have played their part to support @SLLeisCulture and @SouthLanCouncil since the start of lockdown.
— Active Schools S-Lan (@ActiveSchoolsSL) October 5, 2020
Next up, Josh Anderson from the Stonelaw Learning Community who supported a food-parcel appeal at the Rutherglen @HubsSlc. pic.twitter.com/ILsO4eJNE5
This initiative was delivered over a five-month period, supporting many families in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang area.
Josh, Michelle and Craig coordinated food donations, the pick-up and purchase of food items from local supermarkets, packing parcels, identifying families in need of a food parcel intervention and finally delivering those parcels directly to the home or accommodation of recipients.
The programme also received support from various head teachers and education staff, who quickly identified families who required the service.
Making an impact together
Partnership working and collaboration were key to the success of the initiative - like many of the team's projects. As schools re-opened, they have also been able to apply much of their learning from lockdown as they continue to adapt to the current situation.
Josh said: "My role as an Active Schools coordinator changed somewhat during the lockdown period, however what didn't change was our core principle of supporting and developing young people and our wider communities. The food parcel initiative allowed us to continue working towards our core principle, albeit in a different way.
"The programme also highlighted the importance of collaboration as we work to support the people of South Lanarkshire during a time of need.”
Tony McDaid, executive director of South Lanarkshire Council's Education Resources, added: “We are fortunate to have an outstanding working relationship with our partners in Active Schools.
"This has never been more evident in the response to the pandemic and the support provided to our community. This included staff within Active Schools and Education Resources working together to provide emergency childcare in our hubs as well as supporting our most vulnerable families through the food parcel initiative.
"All staff involved in this work should be proud of the difference they have made to our families and community.”
#PEOPLE | A look back at how our Active Schools team supported their schools and communities during lockdown and now in the return to sport @sportscotland @SportnHealthSL @SouthLanCouncil “Active Schools SL #PlayingOurPart” by @ActiveSchoolsSL https://t.co/7RJMZ6QZmN
— Active Schools S-Lan (@ActiveSchoolsSL) October 14, 2020
Find out more
- South Lanarkshire Active Schools on Twitter
