CASA
It’s been a tricky time for all of us, but for many children who are having to deal with extended periods of isolation, without the structure of conventional schooling and time with others of their own age it’s been particularly tough.
Fife Council have produced a new guide that helps parents and carers support their children, helping them understand and deal with the anxiety they may feel.
the link below gives lots of ideas, one might resonate with you, its worth a try!
https://www.dayofaccess.co.uk/2020/03/covid-19-creative-tool-kit.html
Moodcafe
Big White Wall
Mind
Living Life
https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/stress-anxiety-companion/
Assist you with dealing with your stress and anxiety, giving you tools that enable you to be able to face / deal with things ie breathing techniques, music, and games.
Assists you understand and manage your own anxiety – giving techniques and ways of incorporating things into your day, or when you need it
An app to assist you when your mood is low
Breathing space
Online information,
Some capacity for web-chat,
0800 83 85 87 (M-Th 6pm – 2pm, F-M 6pm – 6am)
Saneline
Online support
Reduced phone service – leave a message on 07984 967 708 with name and phone number and someone will return your call asap
Samaritans
Some information on line or facility to email, 24 hour helpline 116 123
Age Scotland
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/
Information available on their website
0800 12 44 222 (M-F 9am – 5pm)
Silverline (an arm of Age Scotland)
Sign up and you will receive a weekly telephone call; enabling relationships to be built up between the Silverline volunteer and the person receiving the weekly call.
0800 4 70 80 90 (24 hour line – to speak to someone straight away)
Independent Age
https://www.independentage.org/
Information and can set up a regular phone befriender too.
0800 319 6789 (8:30am – 6:30pm)
Alzheimers Scotland
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/
Lots of information on website for you, your family and friends. An online community.
0333 150 3456 (M-W 9am-8pm, Th,F 9am-5pm, S,S 10am-4pm)
NHS Grief Support Site for Scotland
Cruse Bereavement Care
Information and advice
0808 808 1677 (mon and fri 9:30 – 5, Tue, Wed, Thur 9:30 – 8pm)
Curly Star Dream Foundation
Local support organisation in fife
07716 018785 (24 hours)
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Information and normally local groups, plus some on line support
0300 111 5065 (9am – 9pm 7 days during Covid 19)
The Compassionate Friends
Support, information, on line resources
0345 123 2304 (7 days 10am – 4pm, 7pm – 10pm)
Can I help Cath Carter Parish Nurse for the Elderly – you can phone me on my mobile (07792 941783) if I don’t answer leave a message and I will get back to you. I am happy to chat and signpost about anything, with a wide range of nursing and listening experience, or have some great volunteers who love talking too, if you are lonely and need a friend. Anyone that knows me will tell you I can talk to anyone, and just love hearing people’s stories so don’t be alone, and have ideas that may help you if you are struggling at this time. Yes we cannot get together just know but imagine the new friends we can make at this time and imagine what we each look like then have the ‘surprise’ when we put a face to the voice we have got to know!
In the current climate they’ve moved all their courses online, and can provide help over email, phone or video calls. Find full details on their website!
This time is stressful and difficult for everyone, but if you are dealing with domestic abuse a confined situation can make things even worse . You are never alone, and there are always people who can help.
You may also find the Safe Lives guide to how to stay safe during COVID-19 useful, as it guides you through how to develop your own action plan for dealing with an abusive relationship in these difficult circumstances:
Emergencies
If you are in urgent or immediate danger always call 999 and ask for the Police. If you can’t talk then use the ‘Silent Solution’ to communicate. You can find details of that here.
Fife Women’s Aid
0808 802 5555 (24 hour)
Men’s Domestic Abuse Advice Line
0808 801 0327 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)
Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriages
0800 027 1234 (24 hours)
Adult Protection
01383 602200
www.fifedirect.org.uk/adultprotection
Action on Elder Abuse (Hourglass)
0808 8088141 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
https://wearehourglass.scot/scotland
Child Protection
03451 551503
www.fifechildprotection.org.uk
Child Line
0808 800 5000 (Monday to Friday, 8am – 10pm; Saturday-Sunday 9am – 6pm)
www.nspcc.org.uk
Or
0800 1111 (for children and young people to phone for free without it showing up on a phone bill)
Rape Crisis National Helpline
08088 01 03 02 (6pm-midnight)
Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre
01592 642336 (Monday to Thursday 9am – 4pm, Friday 9am – midday)
Self Harm (age 18+)
01383 747 788
A
This is a completely unprecedented time to live through, and there is so much about the current situation that can create stress, challenge our resilience and lead to anxiety, panic and depression.
There are a number of resources, sources of help and people to talk to if you need help.
See Me is Scotland’s campaign to tackle the stigma of mental health. They’ve pulled together some practical guidance and links to organisations who can provide help.
The College of Wellbeing have launched a free online course to help you build up resilience to address the challenges of COVID-19.
The Scottish Association for Mental Health have a new information hub providing useful help on mental health resources and a list of organisations who can help.
By Anna Stephenson
Health and fitness during lockdown certainly isn’t quite as we know it. Mr Motivator and the Green Goddess have returned to our TV screens, Joe Wicks has gained something of a cult following with his free PE lessons online and parkrun has gone ‘virtual’.
These are just some of the nationwide initiatives designed to combat the mental and physical challenges associated with the current government guidelines to reduce the spread of Covid19, but we mustn’t forget the many local businesses in and around St Andrews, which are still operating by offering online opportunities to keep fit.
With gyms, studios and swimming pools closed, and team sports off the cards, instructors are having to diversify by offering remote workouts via Facebook, Zoom and other channels, and if we want our favourite coaches and clubs to resume trading post-lockdown, now is the time to show them some support.
With options to suit all ages and abilities, the list below aims to provide a one-stop-shop for keeping fit whilst supporting our community.
C.K Fitness St Andrews
Join Chiara Kirkcaldy for virtual fitness classes throughout the week at C.K Fitness St Andrews. On Mondays it’s Aerobic Burst from 7.00pm-7.45pm; Monday Stretch from 8.00pm-8.45pm; Tuesdays it’s HIIT Barre from 7.00pm-7.45pm; on Wednesdays there’s Barre Fit from 7.00pm-7.45pm; and Thursdays it’s Aerobic Burst again from 7.00pm-7.45pm. Classes cost just £3, with more details on Facebook at C.K Fitness St Andrews.
East Fife Triathlon Club
East Fife Tri Club is offering unlimited online sessions for members, and the good news is it costs just £20 to join! There are turbo sessions on Zoom (similar to spin), strength and conditioning classes, and “in your own time” run, bike and swim sessions.
The Club is also organising community group activities, where members can complete certain distances to contribute towards a combined total. Already, members have run distances individually, adding up to the length of the Fife Coastal Path.
For budding young athletes, there’s also a Juniors section.
All details can be found on Facebook at East Fife Triathlon Club.
Fife Sports and Leisure Trust
Ten live workouts as well as recorded classes are streamed online each week by the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust. Split into two categories, there are ‘home workout’ classes covering Pilates, Yoga, Step, HIIT, Combat, Aerobics and Bodyweight, and ‘Forever Young’ sessions which are suitable for less mobile members of the community.
All classes are free of charge. More information is available at Fife Leisure Group Fitness, and a timetable, updated weekly, can be downloaded here.
Live videos are on Facebook via the Fife Leisure page , prerecorded workouts can be found on YouTube, and there is a well-being guide, too, which can be accessed here.
Functional Fitness St Andrews
A full timetable of CrossFit, Gym and Functional Fitness classes for all ages is continuing, albeit virtually, for members. Sessions run at 8.00am, 10.00am, 12.00pm, 4.00pm and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, as well as 10.00am on Saturdays. Find out more at Functional Fitness St Andrews.
Hot House Yoga
The full Hot House Yoga timetable has moved online! There are classes seven days a week, including some additional lunchtime sessions whilst many of us are at home.
With 24 classes a week, there is something for everyone, from beginners to the more experienced yogi. Styles include Hatha, Vinyasa, Power, Yin, Restorative and Meditation, as well as Barre.
Classes can be booked online at www.hothouseyogastandrews.com or via the GloFox app (search Hot House Yoga). For more details, email hothouseyogastandrews@gmail.com or find Hot House Yoga St Andrews on Facebook.
Julie Brooks – Pilates
Pilates instructor Julie Brooks is running online classes on Tuesdays (5.30pm) and Thursdays (6.30pm). For more information, email julbrooks@gmail.com
Love your Pilates Body
In addition to her mid-week sessions, instructor Ana Simic Campbell is offering free 30-minute Pilates classes on Fridays at 11.30am via Zoom, with a focus on stretching and breathing. Full-length live classes are held on Tuesdays at 6.00pm, Wednesdays at 9.30am and 4.00pm (adjusted standing/seated Pilates), and Thursdays at 5.00pm and cost £7 per class.
More information is available on Ana’s Facebook page Love your Pilates Body.
Natasha Haresign Pilates
Natasha’s virtual Pilates classes run on Wednesday mornings at 10.00am and 11.15am, Thursdays at 10.00am and Fridays at 10.00am. More classes still to be announced. For more details, visit Natasha Haresign Pilates.
PeaceFit
Virtual classes with PeaceFit, based at Peacehill Farm near Wormit, are available to book online via the MINDBODY app. The timetable includes free classes designed specifically for teenage girls, a family workout and PeaceFit Life, which is aimed at the over 50s. For more information search PeaceFit on Facebook or email emma@peacefit.fit
Pilates with Nicola
Join instructor Nicola McLachlan for mixed ability, physiotherapist-led Pilates classes online. All classes are streamed live on Facebook at Pilates with Nicola on Mondays at 10.30am, Tuesdays at 6.30pm and Wednesdays at 7.45pm. A six-week block costs £42 and can be booked by contacting Nicola directly via her Facebook page, Pilates with Nicola.
Rhynd Fitness
Based in Leuchars, Rhynd Fitness is offering a range of online classes each week, from stretch to intense workouts, designed to cater to a wide audience. All are free to try out, after which an unlimited membership for £25 gives access to all 28 classes each month, working out at less than £1 per class.
Join coach Jason Grant for ‘Strength to Run’ every Tuesday evening, designed for runners of all abilities who want to increase strength and reduce injury, have a go at Farming Fit or release tension with stretch and core.
In addition to the usual timetable, a new Wednesday evening Wellness Webinar is held weekly from 6.30pm-8.00pm.
All membership options, timetables and further details can be found here at Rhynd Fitness, or on Facebook here.
Saints Sport
The University Sports Centre have launched new online fitness classes available through Saints Sport called Stay Home I Stay Fit. Its all free and new content is released each week on our YouTube page. There is more information on the webpage.
Sam Mace Wellness
With nine different online classes covering Pilates, Barre and Prenatal Pilates, experienced instructor Sam Mace has options to suit beginners, improvers, seniors and mums-to-be. In addition to her weekly timetable, Sam’s online course ‘Your Pelvic Matters’ starts on 8 May 2020, and focuses on taking a full body approach to pelvic floor repair.
For more information on classes and courses, contact Sam at sam@sammace.com or visit Sam Mace Wellness on Facebook.
Warm Hearts Yoga
Sarah Brannen of Warm Hearts Yoga specialises in classes for adults and children, including Online Kids Yoga Adventures, Ashtanga Yoga and Gentle Yoga For All. Prices vary depending on the length and type of class (all are currently half price for those with reduced income as a result of the coronavirus situation), with sessions taught live via Zoom, after which they are available for download.
Sarah prides herself on keeping classes small in order to retain a focus on individual advice and feedback. Visit Warm Hearts Yoga online or on Facebook for more details.
Please note, we will continue to update this resource as and when we are made aware of any changes or additional opportunities.
If you are an instructor or run a local fitness business, and would like to be included on this page, please email hello@communityaidstandrews.co.uk with details.
A former print and digital journalist, Anna Stephenson is currently on maternity leave from her role as PR & Marketing Coordinator at St Leonards School.
Looking to find out what online and streamed church services are available during the current restrictions?
Here’s our handy guide.
Morrisons have published the details of their ‘Doorstep Delivery’ scheme, which allows vulnerable and isolating people to order common food staples and get delivery to their doorstep in 24 hours, with contactless payment.
Not all foods or supplies are included as it’s designed to provide easy access to core supplies for as many people as possible. The contact number and details are shown on the flyer below.
Citizen science is a great way to contribute to scientific discovery while also getting outside, and is lockdown- and little one- friendly! Volunteers with simple tools (usually an identification sheet provided on the website for each project, a notebook, and a pen) help scientists understand what species of plants and animals are present when all through the UK. St. Andrews is also a great location, because many citizen science projects take place on beaches or along the coast, and we have miles of beautiful coastline to enjoy and record! Some particularly St. Andrews-friendly projects include:
The Great Nurdle Hunt:
Wait, what? Nurdles are the little plastic pellets used in the manufacture of plastic products, and increasingly, they are escaping factories and ending up on the UK’s beaches. The Great Nurdle Hunt encourages people to go to a beach, choose a location on the beach and an amount of time, and record how many nurdles they find. Their website provides a nurdle Identification guide and an online form to submit how long you searched, where on the beach you searched, how many people were with you, and how many nurdles you found. Have no fear — a finding of zero nurdles is still helpful! So if you go out to East Sands on a particularly clear day and find zero nurdles, The Great Nurdle Hunt still wants to know!
The Great Nurdle Hunt doesn’t encourage the collecting of nurdles, as they can absorb pollutants from the ocean. So this citizen science project is an eyeballs-only operation!
If you want to take part, their website is here.
The Big Seaweed Search
This one is a great project to do with wee ones, because no matter which beach you choose or when you go, there will be seaweed. It does require a tiny bit more prep, though. On The Big Seaweed Search website, under How to Take Part, there is a Big Seaweed Search guide that you’ll want to either print out or have on your phone for identification purposes. From there, go down to a beach, pick a plot to survey (a five-meter wide strip running from the shore to the sea), and take a picture of your plot. Then get counting! Once you’re done, your results can be submitted on the same site.
BirdTrack
For the citizen scientists out there with a little experience identifying birds, or anyone willing to spend some time with an identification sheet, BirdTrack is a collaboration between the British Trust for Ornithology, the RSPB, and several other bird-minded organizations. Head out to a site, record what species you see, and when you come back, make an account and input a little information about yourself, the location you were birdwatching, and what birds you saw. As a bonus, your findings will be saved to your account, so if you decide to go birdwatching again, you’ll be able to compare them with what you see the next time!
Have fun science-ing!
Jane Yarnell is a first-year Sustainable Development student at St. Andrews. She is originally from California, and chose St. Andrews in part because she wanted to keep living near the ocean. Her goal for this lockdown is to get better at drawing watercolor portraits and maybe reach the end of West Sands Beach someday.
If you’re offering to help others with their shopping then it can be tricky to know how to do it – particularly when physical contact is limited, exchanging money is involved and when you may be dealing with someone who is vulnerable.
We’ve pulled together a handy guide to help keep you volunteer safely, and support your community.