A Hamilton cafe owner has distributed 1500 ‘survival’ packs to struggling families in the community.
Lesley Robertson owns Juniors Play Cafe, the second drop-in cafe from Lanarkshire charity Families Like Us. It allows parents to relax and receive a support network while their children play.
And along with her 10-year-old son Kyle, Lesley made up the hundreds of bags for her service users and others across Hamilton.
Her packs included a Juniors lockdown activity book for children with general information for the adults, as well as crayons, bubbles, vitamins, toothpaste/toothbrushes, a family-size chocolate bar, sanitary products, a natural energy fizz stick and a sticky toffee/syrup pudding.
Lone parent Lesley, who established her business to overcome isolation among parents, explained: “The whole basis of Juniors is to act as a support network for parents and this coronavirus pandemic has certainly taught us all that we do need support from others.
“Therefore I applied for funding through the Big Lottery Fund and Corra Foundation after speaking to the other organisations we work in partnership with and the customers we already work with whom we knew would be struggling.
“Then I contacted local support groups to distribute the bags for us as they are working in the heart of the community and they were happy to help get the packs out to those who needed them most.
“They were very well received and I have received some lovely thank you messages from parents/carers and children alike.”
Juniors Cafe – on Campbell Street, and Families Like Us on Union Street, Larkhall – is also a resource centre for customers, providing information about what help is available in the area. There is also an emphasis on education, with pay-as-you-go access to activities for toddlers and babies, including Movers & Shakers, Baby Club and Bookwork.
