Caring Streets This Christmas

Image of Newtongrange village houses lit festively for Christmas

…many people have, quite naturally, worried that we are going back to the experience we lived through from March 23rd this year.

With the announcement on Saturday from the First Minister that the Christmas easing of restrictions needed to be adjusted and that a move to Level 4 would happen in the first minute of Boxing Day, many people have, quite naturally, worried that we are going back to the experience we lived through from March 23rd this year. During those early days of the pandemic an acute response was made by our NHS, key workers and countless volunteers who formed resilience groups in many communities to ensure that everyone could access help and support when needed. No one could have imagined that 10 months on we would still be challenged by the impact of the pandemic or indeed that we would be facing such a different Christmas and New Year.

…our biggest message to the community this Christmas is for everyone to play their part and look out for their neighbours in their own street.

Nonetheless, everyone who has worked so hard this year needs the rest and relaxation of the Christmas holidays to recover and to prepare for challenges that lie ahead. That’s why this Christmas, we hope you will agree that Newtongrange Resilience includes everyone in the village and not just a limited number of volunteers! There is updated information to signpost people to crisis agencies and organisations on the website and in posters in the village and there is a number to call below, but our biggest message to the community this year is for everyone to play their part and look out for their neighbours in their own street. We have all built better resilience in 2020 and have learned how to support and share with each other in hard times. No one should feel so alone that they worry what they would do if they needed help, especially at this time of year. So let’s make sure we look out for each other this festive season. Spare a thought for others in your street this Christmas because the greatest gifts we can give to our neighbours are time and kindness.

Written by Rev Gayle J A Taylor, Transition Minister for Newbattle Parish, in support of Newtongrange Resilience and the NRV team.

Midlothian is well organised for support over the coming winter, if you or someone you know needs support, you can start by checking our guidance here. If you need help navigating the guidance, struggling or spotted someone who is, the NRV volunteers are available by calling 0131 660 5000 (SWIFT will put you through confidentially) or emailing nrv@newtongrange.org 

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