An inspirational health visitor has won an NHS Lanarkshire Staff Award for their work within the community.
Lorna Colquhoun, who won in the volunteer category, established the Airdrie charity ‘Bear Necessities’, which provides vital support and urgent essentials for families in need.
Bear Necessities supports families in North Lanarkshire with baby and children essentials to ensure that no child goes without. From nappies and formula to stairgates and clothing and toys, the charity aims to provide all that is needed to support families in caring for children aged 0-16 years.
Lorna, health visitor for NHS Lanarkshire and ‘Bear Necessities’ charity trustee, said: “As part of being a health visitor out and about, you realize that there’s a lot of needs in the community that we don’t meet. A lot of people that are struggling financially, may be isolated and have not got any support.
“So, myself and a small group of friends set up the charity ‘Bear Necessities’. The charity supports vulnerable families and needs within Airdrie.
“The charity has two arms – it has a recycling project where people donate clothing. We ensure the donations are of the quality that you would gift to someone. If I wouldn’t wear it on my own children, I would never gift out to somebody else to wear. We quality check it to make sure that it’s appropriate and make sure it’s washed and ironed. Then we recycle it and gift it back out.
“But when we gift it, it’s handed over in a nice recycled paper bag. It looks really, really special. When they’re getting it so that they feel special, they don’t feel as if I’m getting something second-hand, they’re getting something that’s gifted to them.”
The charity also ensures that each child has fresh pyjamas and fresh underwear that is never recycled.
Lorna said: “The pyjamas and underwear are bought brand new and gifted out to these children to make sure that they feel special and that they have a smile on their face when they’re getting these kind of things.”
The charity also supports young families who are unable to afford to take their babies to groups and activities.
Lorna added: “Many families can’t afford to go to groups and classes for baby massage, baby sensory or groups and activities for arts and crafts.
“This includes working families, who when they are on maternity leave don’t have that spare £7 to go to a baby class or take their children to soft play. It’s a definite forgotten group. It’s the missed group.
“When these kids get older, as the attainment gap widens because these are the kids that are missed. So the kids that don’t have that opportunity to go and spend time doing activities or interacting socializing parents begin to feel isolated.
“We have our own unit that we pay for by fundraising and applying for charity funds that are available. From here we provide groups for baby massage, play sensory, free play opportunities and arts and craft things.”
Speaking of her win at the NHS Lanarkshire Staff Awards, Lorna described how humbled she was to win as everyone nominated deserved the recognition.
Lorna said: “It is a great privilege to receive a staff award. All the nominees in each category were amazing. It is fantastic to see so many great people in NHS Lanarkshire receive recognition for the fantastic work and service that we provide. It makes me feel so humble and thankful to be part of NHS Lanarkshire.
For more information on the NHS Lanarkshire staff awards and the winners, visit: https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/news-nhs-lanarkshire-recognises-inspirational-staff/
For more information on Bear Necessities, visit: https://bearnecessitiescharity.co.uk/
