Portobello teacher raises £3000 for key workers with online fitness classes

Julie Nisbet suggests a £5 donation for each class.

A Portobello teacher has raised £3,000 for key workers and other Covid-19 related causes through her online fitness classes.

Julie Nisbet, 38, has been running fitness classes in person at Murrayfield Parish Church for four yeas.

During lockdown she has moved her classes online via Zoom.

Julie Smith has raised £3,000.

But as she is still earning her salary as a Modern Studies teacher at Portobello High School, she does not charge for the classes.

Instead she asks for a Paypal donation of £5 or whatever attendees can afford, and has used the money to support a different Covid-19 related cause each week, suggested by members.

She has bought nine tablets for care homes in Edinburgh, as several members of the class have parents who recently passed away in care homes.

Julie Smith runs the online classes three times a week.

She also bought gym equipment, tablets and pyjamas for the Royal Edinburgh in Morningside.

Another initiative has been to buy gift cards for key workers. One week she used the money raised to purchase Amazon, Boots and Marks and Spencer gift cards for supermarket workers.

This week the beneficiaries will be postal workers and bin collectors.

“Because I teach and I’m still getting my wages I wouldn’t take money for the classes,” she said.

“The donations mean we can use the classes to keep fit and also help the community.

It’s been nice, and because people know they're doing it for their town it gives them an extra boost to do the class, even if they’re not feeling like it.”