Keeping up community spirits

Across the canal corridor in Glasgow we’ve seen members of the Co-op and locals doing their bit to keep people’s spirits up and give back to the community.

Here’s a roundup of just some of the initiatives we’ve seen which might raise a smile, as well as different activities you can get involved in during lockdown.

Vital food deliveries

It’s been incredible to see individuals, voluntary groups and businesses come together across the city to make sure everyone has the food and other essential items they need.

We’ve seen Queen’s Cross Housing Association (QCHA) work in conjunction with Flourish House to provide pre-cooked meals prepared and delivered from their Courtyard Café. Around 500 frozen meals, as well as fruit, soup and snacks have been delivered to tenants.

Bike for Good have also stepped forward to help QCHA deliver bags of groceries to tenants and have been loaning bikes to free for key workers. You can donate a bike for a key worker on the Bike for Good website.

Volunteers from African Challenge Scotland have been delivering foods and toiletries to people in Springburn, Possilpark and Maryhill, while Young People Futures in Possilpark have worked non-stop to deliver food parcels, and the costume team at Scottish Opera, normally based at Edington Street, have been sewing scrubs for frontline NHS staff.

Elsewhere, Fair Share Glasgow and the West of Scotland have distributed over 315 tonnes of food, equivalent to more than 750,000 meal portions, since the start of lockdown to frontline charities and community groups supporting the most vulnerable people in communities.

Culture hit

Nothing raises the spirits the way music does, so why not let it out your frustration and get lost in the moment belting out a tune.

Head over to the QCHA Wee Sing Along YouTube channel to singalong to some hits. 

Award-winning musician and member of Admiral Fallow Sarah Hayes plays the piano and the lyrics are there for you on the screen – give it a go.

If you’re looking for some music for the wee ones, you can join Claire’s Music Club Sunday Sing-along on Facebook.

Every Sunday morning musician Claire Hastings goes live from Speirs Wharf with some lovely songs and rhymes which are perfect for little people. Singalong live or watch videos from any week you’ve missed on her page @Claire’s Music Club.

Sunday Sing-along

Today's songs and rhymes:Hello Hello HelloSlowly slowlyThe Wheels on the BusLook Lamb Look Harry Hare I like to play the ukuleleGuitar – Bonnie Gallowa’Goodbye goodbye goodbye

Posted by Claire’s Music Club on Sunday, 3 May 2020

For 8 to 12 year olds, Scottish Opera has launched its first interactive online opera for kids – Fever! 

Fever! tells the story of a young boy who is struck down by a mystery illness and rushed to hospital. With new content added every Monday, join them for lots of fun activities including songs, dance moves, prop making and science experiments. Over the 5 weeks, children will learn the whole thing and then have a special invitation to join a nationwide virtual. Get involved.

For visual art fans, Glasgow International – the city’s biennial visual arts festival – has extended its digital programme until the end of May. Look out for Alberta Whittle’s ‘business as usual:hostile environment’ which was originally commissioned with Glasgow Sculpture Studios.

Daily exercise

Getting a daily dose of fresh air has never been more important for our physical and mental wellbeing – and lots of people are looking at how to work out at home and keep it interesting.

Scottish Canals are challenging people to virtually walk the distance of Scotland’s canals at home, in their gardens, or on their daily walk.

The Forth and Clyde Canal is a whopping 38 miles long – that’s 76,000 steps. Reckon you could hit that? Find out more about the Scottish Canals Challenge.

The guys over at Everyday Athlete Gym on Borron Street are also setting some fantastic 30-day fitness challenges. This weighted vest walk can be down with a backpack:

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CHALLENGE 29: WEIGHTED VEST WALK This Challenge if you choose to accept it a WEIGHTED VEST challenge. 30 mins weighted walk everyday for 30 days. If you don’t have a vest use a backpack. Please note: Each of the 30-day challenges will be outlined as a brief video of the task at hand, rather than a comprehensive guide. We will give you a good idea of how to go about the challenge, but you will still benefit from some background reading around each one. Please don’t feel you need to complete all the challenges. This is more to give you some ideas of how you can be challenging yourself in our current gym less world. So know your limits and don’t try something too strenuous if you don’t feel you can do it. #nutrition #edagym #healthyhabits #mobility #fitness #motivation #drinkup #water #coldshower #farmerswalk

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One Speirs Resident has been getting particularly creative with his daily exercise – canoeing and litter picking at the same time!

Remember to stay local for any outdoor exercise, stay away from crowded tow paths and look out for one another.

Keeping in touch with nature

Lots of us are missing being able to spend time in nature so Scottish Canals have come up with this great guide to bring birds to your garden or window. Have a go and see if you make some new feathered friends.

For the green fingered among you, Hamiltonhill Claypits Urban Nature Reserve has a community gardening plot in The Back Garden at Possil Garden.

New social distancing arrangements are in place and there are weekly allotted slots allocated. Get in touch with the Claypits for more information.

Tag us on social media to share your spirit lifting tips and activities on Facebook @glasgowcanalcoop, Twitter at @Glasgow_Canal and Instagram at @glasgowcanal_.

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