Volunteers with older people’s charity are ensuring residents across Dumfries and Galloway have all the food they need for the festive season

A 102-year-old woman has said a special thank-you to volunteers ensuring she does not go without essential shopping supplies this Christmas.

Loreta Lockwood, of Dumfries, is the oldest member of Food Train, the charity that helps older people to eat well and live well in their own home.

The great-grandmother is among 650 people across the region who volunteer shoppers and delivery teams are ensuring are stocked up for the festive season.

Food Train’s team is pulling out all the stops to collect their Christmas grocery shopping – spreading a little cheer as they drop them off at their homes and enjoy a chat with them.

Mrs Lockwood, a former secretary who has lived in Dumfries for 20 years having lived in Gatehouse of Fleet for two decades before that, has had her shopping delivered by the charity for 12 years and is popular among the volunteers.

She said: “I’d like to thank the volunteers from Food Train. They’re really helpful because I struggle to get out – always so obliging. I couldn’t do without what they do and always look forward to speaking to them.

“I always appreciate it, but especially at this time of year when people are so busy.

“As well as getting my shopping, I’ve also had a befriender through Food Train in the past. Although she’s moved away, we still keep in-touch, which is nice. She even came to visit me on my birthday.

“If anyone is thinking about signing up to Food Train services, I’d say don’t hesitate – they are very good.”

Mrs Lockwood is planning a quiet Christmas at home, with one of her daughters travelling from Luxembourg to spend time with her. They will be joined by her brother, Father Ralph Mancini, who is also well-known in Dumfries through his work at St Andrew’s Church.

Isobel Henklemann, Regional Manager at Food Train, said: “Our volunteers love going in to see Loreta and having a chat with her. It’s lovely when people like her take a minute to say thanks for all that they do.

“Christmas can be a lonely time for some older people who struggle to get out of their homes, so it makes the chats to hand over shopping lists and visits from our volunteers even more important.

“Across the region, our teams are working really hard to ensure members have everything they need so that they can be comfortable and well-fed for the festive season. The work they do makes a significant positive difference to peoples’ lives.”

Meanwhile, older people, volunteers and staff enjoyed the first festive fundraising coffee morning to be held at the charity’s headquarters and community hub at English Street in Dumfries town centre.

The charity moved into the former Dumfries and Galloway Council building this summer, realising a 27-year dream to have a home of its own.

The coffee morning raised more than £200, as well as providing a great chance for older people, Food Train volunteers and staff members to get together for a Christmas chat.

Wheatley Homes South customers over the age of 70 will receive drop-in visits from their housing officer over the winter months

Customers of Wheatley Homes South, part of Wheatley Group – Scotland’s leading housing, care and property-management group – will be visited by their housing officer, who will check in on their welfare and provide advice and support on paying energy costs, rent or on food bills.

Around 2000 Wheatley customers over the age of 70 across Dumfries and Galloway will be visited as part of the new initiative. The welfare visits have already started and will carry on until March 2023.

It is one of a range of wraparound support services offered by Wheatley Group to help tenants, including emergency food supplies through EatWell as well as free expert welfare benefits and fuel advice.

Recently, Wheatley launched its ‘Here for You’ campaign, the group’s £6m cost-of-living crisis Scotland-wide campaign, which gives housing officers extra tools to support customers.

All vulnerable Wheatley customers will get a visit from their housing officer while every tenant will receive a letter outlining the different support available to them and urging them to get in touch if they are struggling.

Alan Glasgow, Managing Director of Wheatley Homes South, said: “We’re doing all we can to support our customers in these challenging times.

“We know that this time of year can be difficult for some people at the best of times, but in this cost-of-living crisis, it can be even harder.

“Over the coming weeks, our housing officers will be visiting older residents to check on their wellbeing, have a chat and find out what extra support they need at this time.

“We would encourage any customer who is struggling to get in touch with their housing officer, we are here to help.”

Local technician Keiron Chisholm is now qualified to deliver lighting for events and festivals, thanks to support from the Galloway Glens Scheme, reducing the need and cost for this expertise to be sought from outside the region.

Keiron Chisholm is one of the Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities volunteers and has been heavily involved with the organisation’s sound and lighting at events. Keiron identified a course that allows him to provide signed-off event electrics for organisations such as the Festivities and many others in the wider area.

In order to have event electrics signed off by professionals who have been certified, organisations must normally get a company from Glasgow or Edinburgh to sign off. This can be very expensive, especially for charities and local organisations who are looking to put on community events. Keiron identified a need for this training in the local area, and with the support of Galloway Glens, Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities were able to support Keiron through this training.

Keiron will now work as a contractor for Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities, as well as continuing to volunteer his time and can also build a business in the local area, offering his services to other organisations and events.

Avive Asbridge from Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities said:

“The Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities are delighted to be able to support this talented young man in building a local business and grateful that due to this training, Keiron will be able to stay in the area and work with the Festivities in the future. Having an affordable way to sign off major events allows the budgets of these events to go further and allows the Festivities to keep putting on these valuable community events for all to enjoy. The Festivities are grateful to Galloway Glens for their continued support in a number of ways including training Keiron.”

McNabb Laurie, Galloway Glens Team Leader, added:

“One of the key aims of the Galloway Glens Scheme is to encourage young people to plan their working future here in Dumfries & Galloway. Our input into this training has supported that aim perfectly, while also reducing ongoing costs for our partners at Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities group. This nimble and targeted use of our funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund must surely be classed as a ‘win-win’.

We have some exciting plans afoot for further job training and intern opportunities in our remaining nine months, please keep an eye on our channels if you are looking for work experience right here in Galloway.”

The Galloway Glens is a 5-year suite of projects aimed at connecting people with their heritage, boosting the local economy and supporting sustainable, thriving communities. It is an initiative of Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Team funded by a range of partners including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Drax, the owner of the Galloway Hydro Scheme. More info: www.gallowayglens.org.