'Humbled to help' – Hectic first year for Community Hub as cost of living storm continues to batter Buckie
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AS the new year dawns, a Buckie community group which has been supporting local people grappling with the cost of living crisis has warned there could be even tougher times ahead.
Timing, as they say, is everything and Buckie Community Hub's entry onto the local scene a year ago could not have come at a more vital moment.
The volunteer-run Hub, which opened its doors for the first time on the town's East Church Street on November 22 last year, has been providing a number of vital services to help people struggling to deal with the cost of living crisis.
Help is on offer for people having problems with the likes of benefits, heating costs and housing, as well as signposting to a variety of support agencies. The Hub also works with local groups such as the Salvation Army's food bank in Buckie and the baby bank based at Too Cute in the town.
Behind the project is Buckie Area Forum (BAF) and the group's chairman, Gordon McDonald, reflected on what has been something of a baptism of fire for the band of volunteers as the cost of living crisis has deepened.
He said: "It's been very busy because there is a genuine need in the town.
"There's been a large number of people coming through the door with all sorts of queries and issues ranging from food and food vouchers right across to mental health.
"Some people just come in for a cup of tea and a blether because they're lonely; loneliness is a big problem as well.
"It's been a big learning curve for all the volunteers because we've no idea what's going to come through the door, we've just got to meet that with a smile and a cup of tea.
"We never thought we'd have come so far so quickly. The Hub wasn't open six days back then and we're now open in the evening because there're so many people who're in employment but on benefits that we're trying to target.
"We're managing to do that but we certainly didn't expect the volume of people who've come through the door. We're all very humbled to be able to help these people, some of whom are really in dire straits."
Funding has been a challenge, with the Hub left reeling from an early financial blow.
Mr McDonald explained: "One of the biggest challenges we've faced is when Moray Council withdrew its funds so basically we were totally on our own apart from some great support the council's community support workers.
"However, in terms of the actual finance we had to look to get lottery grants and other forms of income to actually run the place. Fortunately, we got that so we're reasonably OK for rents and rates and so on. That's been a big challenge because obviously without that, we close, and if we do close a lot of folk who are needing help will be struggling.
"I think one of the other big issues which has kind of shocked most of us is that this is unique, there isn't another hub like this, as far as we are aware, certainly in Moray if not across the whole of Scotland. There are the odd Hubs which are open a day or two a week whereas we're open six days a week and are run entirely by volunteers, we've don't have development officers or things like that.
"We've 30 volunteers and we work away ourselves."
Mr McDonald went on to praise the volunteer team who, he said, had "come into their own" over the course of the last year and all brought "something to the table" in terms of skills, experience and talents. "Phenomenal" support from local tradespeople was also highlighted.
"Buckie's certainly come out and shown a huge amount of support for the Hub," he added.
While 2023 had been a demanding year, Mr McDonald said that he did not envisage any easing of the cost of living crisis in 2024, indeed he believes yet heavier blows are set to rain down on some of the community's most vulnerable people.
He continued: "We've no idea when the cost of living crisis is going to be over so we don't know how long we're going to have to be here. One suggestion I've heard is that it could be five years before it's over.
"It's going to be a tough call.
"We've made a few mistakes over the last year and learned by that, but the sad thing is we're needed more now than ever. Whether it's the fact we're better known now or the fact that there's an awful lot more folk in need but certainly the volume of people we're dealing with is far greater than when we started. I don't see that tailing off and in fact there're signs that it may become worse."
He went on to point to mortgage holders as a group coming into its own in terms of needing assistance, in particular young couples who had stretched their finances to buy a house before the crisis and had been hammered by successive interest rate rises.
"There're are people who're struggling now you maybe wouldn't expect to be struggling," he noted.
Energy bills, Mr McDonald stated, was another area likely to cause suffering as they continue to rise.
Despite a grim prognosis for 2024, Mr McDonald spoke of his huge pride in the volunteer team at the Hub and what they have achieved from a standing start over the last 12 months.
"I think we've managed to help so many people, some in small ways and others in big ways.
"The other thing is that we're recognised by other agencies who now want a slot in the Hub. We've got eight or nine agencies who now regularly come in to the Hub to see clients, they know it's a face-to-face thing and they're out in the real world not in tower.
"The amount of satisfaction you get when you try and help someone is huge. It's also heartbreaking at times, I've had folk in here who're really at rock bottom, are really suffering and have absolutely no money. We're getting referrals from the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions] and schools, these are people who're absolutely at their lowest point.
"Those are the folk that when you help them the gratitude that they have got for us doing just that wee bit is amazing. For us it's a one-off but they have to deal with the rest of it.
"That's why we keep the volunteers because, basically, you get so much satisfaction out of it and doing your best to help folk.
The Hub is situated at 17 East Church Street, Buckie – for more information on its opening hours and services provided follow the group's Facebook page.
