A Nairn charity has launched a pack to combat loneliness brought on by the pandemic.
The non-profit GreenHive focuses on community and environment, with normal activities including tending the Viewfield community orchard, tackling invasive species, upcycling, waste reduction, litter picks and community events.
Their goal is to establish a permanent hub in the community based around enterprises such as re-purposing waste plastic and growing mushrooms from waste coffee grounds.
GreenHive has had to cancel or postpone their activities in the past two months- nearly 600 hours of event, engagement and volunteering time- leading organisers to fear they could lose connections with their volunteers and members.
They have now shifted their focus from group activities to individual experiences by launching a ‘starter pack’ to maintain some of members’ favourite activities, nurture community connections and tackle social isolation.
The pack includes kits to make tote bags and beeswax wraps, basic materials to start growing your own veg, litter pick packs for people on their daily walk, and a kit to learn about plastics and how to start recycling.
GreenHive’s Caroline Wood said: “The Mental Health foundation has found that a quarter of adults report feeling lonely during the pandemic, so we are also using digital engagement and themed webinars to keep in touch with people, including a natter with sinsong, poetry and story time, and a live video tour of areas such as Nairn river, Nairn’s beaches and the community orchard.”
She encouraged people to visit the GreenHive website to apply for a starter kit, the first 60 of which are funded by the National Lottery community funds.
She said: “The physical starter kits will only be available to people in the IV12 postcode but anyone can participate in our digital meet-ups and webinars.”
