The Care Group had its first meeting on Tuesday 19 April in the BI and got straight down to addressing the 2 key Care concerns identified in the Action Plan:

Four proposals were then tabled in response to these concerns, each of which is based upon models tested elsewhere in Scotland:

• A Social Prescribing link between a nominated person in the surgery and nominated people in each of a range of local groups which offer companionship, constructive activity and creative opportunities. This link could be used to enable folk experiencing, for example, mild depression/anxiety to be introduced to a new activity and hopefully to improve their sense of well-being  
• A Men’s Shed. Men aren’t great about talking about their worries, particularly as they get older. Men’s Sheds provide a place for guys to meet, make and repair stuff, drink large amounts of tea - and talk. . There are 5 of them across Perth and Kinross and there now seems a real opportunity to get another one started here
• A Carer Coop. Building on a model trialled successfully in Highland Perthshire, a local group would look to provide information/ advice, help to defray initial registration costs, and mentoring through a part time worker to encourage people either starting out or perhaps returning to work to consider caring as a career. Discussion with local groups and PKC is already underway.
• A Community Food Share. When Autumn arrives, so we’re likely to see further increases in energy and other costs, causing real hardship for local people. The Dunkeld Coop is keen to support a scheme which avoids wasting perishable goods nearing their sell-by date. Discussions are also underway with some other local shops and with the Cathedral on what other foodstuffs might be donated and where the necessary fridge/freezer might be based. 

All these ideas were supported by those present, but each will require volunteers to make them work. If you would like to get involved in any of them and/or you’d like to come to the next meeting of the Care Group at 7.00pm on Tuesday 31 May, please get in touch.

Social Prescribing - contact Laura Downie (laura.downie2@nhs.scot)

Men’s Shed - contact Bill Muntus (billboem@googlemail.com)

Carer Coop - contact John Gilruth (johngilruth1@hotmail.com)

Community Foodshare - contact Jan Silburn (j.silburn@btinternet.com)

Or if you just want to come along to the next meeting and here more - contact John Gilruth ( see above)