Youth Volunteers deliver food to vulnerable people isolating in Edinburgh amid second lockdown

Youth volunteers at Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre, based in South East Edinburgh, have made it their mission to take care of the vulnerable in their community as coronavirus restrictions tighten.

The centre has been working since the start of the pandemic to get food parcels and packed lunches out to those who are shielding across Edinburgh.

Over the last seven months, over 50 young people have volunteered and group organisers, John Beatson, Janette O’Donnell and Irene Cooper, are keen to help the kids in any way they can while they assist their local community.

Mr Beatson, said: “As we know the importance of their education, we will be offering support with their school work as part of their daily routine Monday to Friday.

One of the youth volunteers delivering a food parcel

“We have taken the decision to work with a smaller group this time around due to the high transmission of the virus to minimise the risk to the young people, staff and those they will be supporting.”

The food is donated by local businesses and charities in the area including food delivery service, Diced Meal Prep, who provide 400 meals a week and Unison Lothian Health Branch who provide 100 meals per week.

Social Bite, Cyenians and Edinburgh Community Food also provide food parcels and meals for the centre to deliver to the elderly who are isolating.

One young volunteer said: “We’re from all over, some people are from Gilmerton, Gracemount, Inch, Moredun; we kind of knew each other but we didn’t really used to hang about since we were from different areas but I think this has brought us all together.”

Four of the youth volunteers preparing the food packages

Another said: “I never thought I’d be helping so many people, delivering lots of packed lunches a day. I never thought i’d be working for four or five hours but it’s mental, when you’re there doing it, it’s mental.”

It is more than just delivering food to the elderly in their community, the youth volunteers have also been hosting virtual activities such as bingo and ‘keeping active’ to try to help reduce social isolation.

In order to do this, over the past few months the group distributed 25 electronic devices, Ipads, laptops and tablets, across the community thanks to Connecting Scotland and their partners Out & About.

Additionally, when they do deliver the food they make sure to have a ‘door-step’ chat, at a safe social distance because for many people, that contact is the only interaction they will have that day.

Volunteers picking up meals from Dice Meal Prep

It is their way of keeping “spirits high”.

To date, Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre has provided over 40,000 packed lunches, hot meals and food hampers to families and elderly people who are vulnerable and isolating during the pandemic. You can follow their progress on their Facebook page, where they post regular updates on how the kids are getting on with homeschooling and how many food packages have been delivered by the volunteers each day.

Mr Beatson added: “Our young people continue to be a beacon of light amongst the darkness and we couldn’t be any prouder.”

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