Wellbeing
Alison McDougall took up the post of Wellbeing coordinator in November 2023.
Her initial focus has been on establishing a mens shed for Shapinsay. They are currently in the process of appointing office bearers and setting up a SCIO so they can do their own independent fundraising.
Alison has just completed her training to begin doing wellbeing walks. Check out the facebook page for details of when this will begin
She has set up a community larder in the waiting rooms at the pier. This is funded by generous donations from a member of the community. If you find yourself in hard times and would like assistance to pay electricity bills, buy coal, put food on the table, buy home essentials please contact Alison and she will see what she can do, there are bodies out there who can help if we can’t.
We run a monthly wellbeing café where anyone of any age can pop in and have a chat and a coffee, it’s a social experience designed to create company for anyone who needs it as well as give an opportunity to chat with your wellbeing coordinator or your development officer. Please come along to the next one – check out the Facebook page detailed below for further details.
If there are areas where you would like our wellbeing project to focus, or areas where you might need help, please get in touch.
For regular wellbeing updates, please check out our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ShapinsayIslandWellbeing
Island Wellbeing Project: Shapinsay
Shapinsay is part of the Island Wellbeing Project, a partnership of Development Trusts working to support the health, economic and social wellbeing of island residents. We employ a Community Wellbeing Coordinator, Alison Meason. Alison develops new groups and services, and provides one-to-one support to those that need it.
The Island Wellbeing Project is funded by the Aspiring Communities Fund. It is a partnership between Voluntary Action Orkney and the Development Trusts of Shapinsay, Sanday, Stronsay, Hoy and Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre. Since April 2020 the project has supported more than 50 community projects and initiatives.
The Wellbeing project has supported a range of projects in Shapinsay. During lockdown we organised grocery boxes, activity packs and an island book-swap. Alongside regular Health Walks, we also recently launched the ‘Cast Affs’ pop up charity shop and the ‘Piece Place’ café, both of which have been extremely popular with the community and have gone on to have permanent replacements in the new Cast Affs dedicated building and the Smithy Café.
The project can also provide one-to-one support on a range of issues. For example, in the past we have helped people struggling with household bills, needed help accessing benefits, been unable to access services, had problems with housing, or who have been unable to get online. If there’s something worrying you, get in touch. If Alison can’t help, she’s likely to know somebody that can.
Contact Alison
wellbeing.shapinsay@gmail.com / 01856 711733
When we provide one-to-one support, we collect personal data about you, in the form of notes about the support we’ve provided and any follow-up action we need to take. Data will only be accessed by those who need to know, in the strictest confidence. Find out more and read our privacy notices: www.islandwellbeing.org/privacy
Grocery Boxes
During lockdown one the Development Trust were given a grant that allowed us to do Grocery boxes for the elderly, vulnerable and children. With a team of volunteers, we made up grocery boxes or delivered ready meals to those that needed it.
