Local People: Balerno Cares

Balerno resident Ishbel Smith started the Balerno Cares network, which currently boasts 1,356 members. Ishbel worked as a lawyer for 20 years before going back to university to do theology. An elder at Balerno Parish Church, she is also chair of the Mill Café. She and her husband, Iain, have three teenage children.

Having lived in Balerno for 13 years, Ishbel Smith knew it was an amazing community. And, as concerns about the coronavirus grew, she knew the residents would want to help one another. In the week leading up to the lockdown Ishbel pondered: People will want a focus. How can Balerno help itself?

“I’m a firm believer in community,” she says. “And one evening in mid March I just decided to start a Facebook page, where locals could share resources and ideas and ask questions. Within 24 hours ‘Balerno Cares’ had 400 members!”

During the following week a number of WhatsApp street groups were set up. “There are about 38 such groups,” says Ishbel, “which makes looking out for one another easier. The WhatsApp groups enable people to collect groceries or prescriptions for neighbours, share news and helpful information, and provide encouragement.

“The central message of Balerno Cares is ‘be kind’, and anyone can join. You don’t have to be a resident. This helps those who live in other areas to ensure their loved ones are looked after. For example, an adult child living in Glasgow can let us know about the needs of their elderly parents living in Balerno, as well as encouraging them to make use of the help that’s on offer.”

If you scroll the Balerno Cares Facebook page you will find practical information about such things as: where you will find a post office that’s open; how to deal with garden waste or recycling that’s not being collected; craft ideas for keeping little ones busy; and local online church services. It also provides support for local businesses. The Tune of the Day feature seems to be a hit — every day you can listen to the latest winner, a song that was nominated due to its power to cheer up!

“Walk round Balerno and you’ll see children’s artwork in many windows,” says Ishbel, “brightly coloured rainbows—a symbol of hope. People have also put teddy bears in their windows, so that children on a walk with their family can go on a bear hunt. It’s really heartwarming.”

Standing on their doorsteps, neighbours cheer and clap the NHS every Thursday evening at 8.00. And many light a candle and place it on their windowsill on Sunday nights, in remembrance of those who have been lost to the virus.

“Community is where we are meant to be,” says Ishbel. “Perhaps when this is all over we can have an exhibition at The Mill Café highlighting all of the art, photos, rainbows, stories and connections that have been made during this strange time. It would be great if people could record their stories now, both good and sad, so that they won’t be forgotten.”

Anyone interested in helping to plan and/or curate this unifying, engaging and respectful community event is encouraged to contact Ishbel at: info@heartinmouth.org or via the Balerno Cares Facebook page.

Balerno Cares is an open Facebook page to help the community of Balerno. Our key rule is to always #bekind.

The Local People column is contributed by Suzanne Green. Suzanne, a freelance writer/ editor and writes regularly for Konect. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters.