Badenoch and Strathspey communities are 'staying active'
Local groups and organisations have come together in a collaborative effort to put together 600 “Stay Active/Green Health Packs” for distribution to a range of Badenoch & Strathspey’s community groups.
The packs provide enjoyment while releasing some creative talent and hopefully inspire some new hobbies during this period of lockdown.
They have been funded by Holyrood’s Supporting Communities Fund, which is administered and distributed locally by VABS – Voluntary Action in Badenoch & Strathspey – and the Highland Green Health Events project funded by European Union Leader funds and Scottish Natural Heritage.
In little under four weeks, key organisations in the strath have collaborated to identify recipients for the packs, order all the items, pack the bags and organise uplift and distribution.
VABS has co-ordinated the identification of the 600 recipients through nursery groups, primary and secondary schools, day care centres and health visitors.
Cairngorms National Park Authority provided help with bulk distribution and provided their Grantown office premises to accept delivery of items and arrange for them to be packed - respecting physical distancing rules, of course!
RSPB Abernethy packed bird seed and designed the bird identification sheet specific to this area. High Life Highland’s Green Health Project Officer co-ordinated the Green Health Packs and Inverness Botanic Gardens staff and volunteers put the gardening items together.
The Care and Learning Alliance, Green Hive (Nairn) provided invaluable guidance and advice on the indoor and outdoor pack contents based on their own experiences running similar projects. Highland Council and NHS Highland staff took on local delivery to get the packs out to individual households across the strath.
VABS chief officer Karen Derrick told the Strathy: “This amazing effort has been yet another great example of how collaboration across local third sector organisations and public agencies can achieve something positive for our communities and residents.
"It is hoped that those households receiving one of these packs will find the contents stimulating, both physically and mentally, so that it helps to keep people well during lockdown conditions."
The packs each have an indoor and outdoor selection of activities based on the age of the recipients. Each one includes pens, craft boxes, magazines, juggling balls, puzzle books, jigsaws and reading material. The Green Health Pack contains bird seed, soil, plant pots and seeds and a selection of Nature Identification cards (courtesy of The Woodland Trust).
Each can be enjoyed by a person on their own or explored and shared as part of family activity.
Tania Alliod, Green Health project officer with High Life Highland, said: “In Badenoch & Strathspey, COVID and the resulting lockdown has provided an opportunity for many to appreciate and re-connect with nature despite the stressful situation many households find themselves in.
"The Green Health Pack was a great opportunity to support this community initiative. We hope the packs not only provide enjoyment but encourage people to consider their personal health and well-being, get their hands dirty and explore some green health activity in a very accessible way.
"Who knows, they may even discover a new hobby or interest!”
