Organisations playing a big part in Annandale and Eskdale’s coronavirus pandemic fight-back have been given a £25,000 cash boost from Magnox and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
The money from the former nuclear power plant site at Chapelcross near Annan, has been handed to the council to support the community during the Covid-19 crisis.
The funding will be administered by the Safe and Healthy Action Partnership (SHAP).
And it is being shared between day centres in Annan, Ecclefechan, Moffat, Langholm and Gretna, as well as Kate’s Kitchen, Annandale and Eskdale Food Train, Aberlour Trust and Newstart Recycle.
Tony Nisbet of Newstart Recycle said they are “delighted” to be one of the beneficiaries of the grant funding which will help the volunteers with their support work in the community in response to the pandemic.
They are issuing free hand sanitiser, visors, free scrubs and face masks made by a group of volunteer sewing machinists – all these items are being given free to local care and key frontline workers.
The others are also helping the community with hot meals, food parcels, pharmacy deliveries, hand sanitisers and scrubs among other things.
Elaine Lamont, public health practitioner and chairman of SHAP, said: “There is some absolutely amazing work happening across Annandale and Eskdale to provide vital support to people who may be struggling during these challenging times.
“This funding will provide some extra help to our local services and community groups so that they can continue to reach out and provide a crucial lifeline to those in greatest need.”
The funding forms part of the 12 grants, worth £300,000 in total, Magnox has made available to local authorities or charities where they have a site.
Gwen Parry-Jones, Magnox chief executive, said: “Many community groups are carrying out positive work, supporting the most vulnerable in their areas.
“This work is vital and a key part of Magnox’ response to Covid-19 is to help other organisations deal with the pandemic wherever we can.
“In this time of national crisis, Magnox has agreed with the NDA that we should make available up to £25,000 at each site from the Magnox Socio-Economic Scheme for use by local community groups on Covid-19 related activities.
“It will make a significant contribution to the local agencies striving to look after vulnerable people in difficult circumstances.”
