MORE than 3,000 leaflets have been sent to households in Auchinleck which give residents advice and support on how to deal with lockdown.

Organised by Auchinleck Community Council and Auchinleck Community Development Initiative (ACDI), the leaflets

are specifically aimed at people who may be suffering hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost 20 volunteers helped to deliver the leaflets in the village in less than three hours with the groups now planning to deliver in Netherthird and Muirkirk.

Community Councillor, Stephen McCarron, said: “The recently published Auchinleck Community Action Plan, along with the launch of the ACDI Connexions project which tackles social isolation in the community, highlighted the fact that there are some residents who are having health, wellbeing, financial and social isolation difficulties due to the lockdown.

“This may be because they require emergency food supplies, fuel card top ups, need to claim Universal Credit or simply having no income at all.

“Some people in fact don’t know what they’re entitled to and so the Community Council and ACDI decided to join forces in order to make sure that no one struggles unduly because they don’t have the information they need.

“Some of our most vulnerable residents, who are currently isolated and digitally excluded, will now have some comfort now that they have been provided with the contact details of staff who can support them with their needs and emergency supplies.”

He added: “I would like to thank all our staff and volunteers who gave up their time and put themselves at some risk in order to ensure that a friend, a relative, a neighbour or a resident will receive the assistance they require.”

  *******************

Scotland is in lockdown, shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We’re not exaggerating when we say that the future of the Cumnock Chronicle, and the vital local news service we’ve provided since 1901 is under threat.

Please consider supporting the Cumnock Chronicle  in whatever way you can – by paying just 90p for a copy of the paper, when you’re shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others, or by subscribing to our e-edition here.

Thanks - and stay safe.