A new ‘community cupboard’ is to open in Brae next week, while the St Ringans Hub in Lerwick will now operate on an appointment only basis from Friday 31st March.
The St Ringans Hub was opened last year to support households under pressure due to the rising cost of living, especially during the winter months. From this Friday, drop in sessions will end and families or groups will be able to arrange to visit by contacting 0800 0308780 and browse for clothing or other items that they require. The Anchor for Families Team and other key services will continue to have access to fresh food and other items to support households over the coming months.
A new Community Cupboard has also been set up at the Youth Centre in Brae, to provide local support for families in the North Mainland. The Cupboard will be open from Monday 3rd April and will contain a range of items, including store cupboard ingredients and some clothing. Additional items can also be requested from St Ringans Hub for collection.
Teams from the Youth and Employability Service, and the Living Well Hub will hold drop in sessions on Mondays from 10am–2pm, Tuesdays 7–8pm and Fridays from 10am–4pm to help households gain access to further support.
To help stock the cupboard, donations of store cupboard basics, such as boxes of cereal, UHT milk, cans and packets are welcome, and can be left at the Living Well Hub in Brae during opening hours. Donations of clothes cannot be accepted at this time.
The cupboard was originally conceived by pupils at Brae High School, then designed by participants of the Bridges Project, with the support of UHI Shetland’s Construction Department, to create something to fit the space at Brae Youth Centre.
Eleven participants took part in the project, working on everything from design, construction and finishing. Volunteers from local haulage company RS Henderson Ltd transported the cupboard to its final location in Brae.
Emma MacDonald, Shetland Islands Council Leader and one of the Members for Shetland North, said: “St Ringans Hub has been an invaluable resource for our community over the winter. While many of us will welcome the return of lighter nights and warmer days to provide some much needed relief to our budgets and our mental health, many households will continue to struggle. I’m pleased to hear that this support will continue to be made available to residents where it is needed.
“I’m also pleased to see this resource extended to communities in the north, and am impressed by the hard work and collaboration that the young people and other members of our community have displayed to bring it about.”