Helping Each Other in Our Community

Initiatives to help each other in these times are very heartening, community spirit to the fore, such as Helping Hands in East Linton and other mutual support groups being set up in our scattered communities.

We just need to be mindful of protection of ourselves as well as the sick, vulnerable or isolated in helping them. This is a link to the advice / guidance from the Scottish Government (just received) on helping in the community, which is genuinely helpful and ought to be followed.

https://www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus/helping-in-your-community/

Please also use the recognized Council and UK Government and NHS COVID 19 websites to gain factual and current information.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public
https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/

A number of communities, Tyninghame Village and Lawhead communities being examples, have already taken their own action to set up mutual support groups via WhatsApp groups (clearly other means of group communication can be effective). We think this should be encouraged in East Linton and other communities, perhaps at a localized level, say on a street by street basis, so that help can be sought/provided by people who are known and trusted (given, sadly, the potential for unscrupulous activity). In setting up or maintaining a support group, clearly there must be compliance with the prevailing government advice on measures to protect ourselves and others, including social distancing.

If these groups are set up, please communicate with the Community Council, so that we can post contact details for each on the DCC website, if groups are willing for this to be done. Anyone not already part of a group, such as those living in isolated houses or small enclaves, may then be able to access/ join their local group. It is important that everyone is considered and included in some group, however informal, if they wish to be.

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