Coronavirus Update

Information for GalGael’s Participants, Volunteers & Visitors

GalGael and Phase 1

The Scottish Government announced that as of May 28, 2020 we can now carefully and cautiously move into Phase 1 of the Four Phase Route Map out of the lockdown regulations. You can see details of the changes on the Scottish Government website: news.gov.scot

The main focus of Phase 1 is on outdoor activity and gradual changes in meeting family and friends. It’s wonderful that we can now connect with family and friends but how we do this will be vital. We know our volunteers, participants and customers are keen to return to the workshop and wood store. We know people miss the workshop too, rummaging through wood to find the right piece for a project, the craft, the craic, the food, and each other.

In line with the Scottish Government’s Guidelines for Phase 1, we are looking to restart outdoor yard work and open up wood sales as soon as we can. There’s a lot of planning and work to be done to keep us all safe, so we have begun to put together all the necessary risk assessments and to adapt the space for new shift and training patterns, one-way systems to move around in, new hygiene regimes, barriers to protect everyone and anything else that will help us comply with the public health guidelines and most importantly keep people well. Until this is all in place, the workshop will need to remain closed for activity and sales.

What we’ve been up to in the meantime

While 15 Fairley Street has been closed, we are staying in touch with our community so folks stay connected with one another. We know how much craft work can give people a useful focus so we have been busy developing and distributing heritage and creative craft kits to our volunteers and most recent participants. We've also created digital spaces where our community can keep in touch with each other and continue to offer mutual support. And we are working to ensure various other needs are being met, whether it is groceries, electricity top-ups, or tools to continue work at home. We are very grateful for the support of our funders; Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Robertson Trust without whom this work would not be possible. We also are particularly grateful for the support of our kinship members and regular donors - through a challenging time.

Moving forward

It will take time to move through the Phases of the Scottish Government’s Route Map. We don’t know when we will be able to resume work in the way we used to. Coronavirus has fundamentally changed how we work together everywhere in our society and so will impact how GalGael are able to continue working together on demanding common tasks that build community - yet demonstrating ways of living with more humanity has also never been more important. Now, we must find new methods and approaches. So we’re exploring and planning how we can continue to create community through a blended model of digital and remote learning and workshop activity.

Finally, we want to remind everyone of the government’s guidance during Phase 1:

Stay at home, the virus has not gone away
Lockdown is being modified, it’s not over
Not to meet up with more than one household in the same day, and keep it to a maximum of 8 people in a group
Only meet people outdoors, don’t go indoors, and stay at least 2 metres apart
Not to touch the same surfaces as others
And, wash hands and surfaces regularly.

Keep well, stay safe, and we will be in touch again

Further information

People who want more general information on COVID-19 but do not have symptoms can also phone the free helpline on 0800 028 2816 (NHS 24). The helpline is open:

Monday to Friday – 8am to 10pm
Saturday and Sunday – 9am to 5pm

More detailed guidance: The latest advice and developments on COVID-19 in Scotland can be found on the Scottish Government website. https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

Page updated 08 June 2020

*Source: Health Protection Scotland COVID-19 Information and Guidance for Non-Healthcare Settings Version 2.2 (16.03.20)

Photo Credit: Joerg Meier Photographers

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