A successful initiative to give a rucksack full of emergency items to vulnerable people is taking off in the Highlands.
NHS Highland’s drug and alcohol recovery service has trialled a new way of getting necessary basics such as hats, gloves and basic food to those most in need over the winter.
NHS Highland staff used a pot of money from a endowment fund to create a number of emergency packs to be given out over the winter months .
The packs were the idea of colleagues Cheryl Light, a senior nurse practitioner for the homeless service, and Jean Macleod, a health improvement nurse, who regularly work with people who are in desperate need of small useful items to keep them warm and fed.
Team leader Shona Urquhart, from the drug and alcohol and recovery service, said: “We are very much aware that there is a population of people who don’t have a safe place to stay or access to what many of us would say are basic provisions and we wanted to do something.”
The emergency packs contain toiletries, sanitary products, hats, gloves and basic food supplies such as biscuits and dried noodles, amongst other supplies. The waterproof rucksacks can be kept by the individuals.
Ms Light added: “The packs have been really well received and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to help with this small gesture. We will review the situation after Christmas and New Year and we are keen to try and hold a small stock of items that we can support individuals with throughout the year.
“If you would like to support the work that has been done with these packs we would ask that you make a donation to your local food bank rather than drop any items at Osprey House.”