Rallying call from Thurso Community Development Trust to support local businesses
A rallying call has been issued to the public in Thurso to support local businesses in their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The plea comes from Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT), which has secured £10,000 funding from Scotland’s Towns Partnership to run a Love Local, Love Thurso project with the town's retailers and eateries.
It ties in with the nationwide Scotland Loves Local initiative.
TCDT development manager Joan Lawrie said: “At the heart of our campaign is a real effort to link the local community to Thurso’s businesses.
"The people behind our independent retailers and eateries are our friends, family, neighbours, our community. Many of them went above and beyond with deliveries and adjusting their services during the height of lockdown, so please support them now in moving through recovery.
"While we were not able to shop in them during lockdown, they still had overheads to pay that come from running a business and were possibly some of the hardest hit by lockdown. Spending in the local economy through independent retailers and eateries means that the money stays in our local economy, which is good for everyone.”
Meanwhile, local MSP Gail Ross is urging other projects in her Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency to apply for grants of between £500 and £5000 from the newly launched £1 million Scotland Loves Local fund, aimed at helping town centres and high streets to recover from the economic impact of Covid-19.
The funding for TCDT has allowed it to produce posters and banners as well as generating social media activity aimed at supporting local businesses. This will be supplemented by a community magazine in the run-up to the festive period.
As the town's usual Christmas Fun Day cannot go ahead due to the restrictions this year, trust members were keen to find an alternative to encourage people to shop locally – and one local retailer suggested a solution which has been well received.
Ms Lawrie explained: “We give huge thanks to Angela Mackay at JA Mackay for the idea of us running a prize draw with the independent businesses each contributing a £20 voucher to make for an amazing first prize which is literally a year’s worth of voucher needs, from eating out to chocolates and of course a nice beverage from JA Mackay.”
To be in with a chance of winning the vouchers, everyone who shops or eats in a participating shop between October 26 and November 30, spending £20 or more, should quote "Love Thurso" for their details to be recorded by the business. A draw will then take place on Saturday, December 5, with the winner receiving a bumper pack of vouchers estimated to be worth around £500.
Second and third prize winners will receive £50 and £25 Love Thurso vouchers respectively for the Thurso independent shop of their choice.
Further details of the campaign, including weekly blog postings, are available on the trust's website . For details of all participating businesses for the Love Thurso voucher competition, see the TCDT Facebook page. All participating businesses are displaying a poster.
Gail Ross pointed out that the Scotland Loves Local funding can be used for small-scale measures such as protective screens, physical distancing markers, hand-sanitising equipment and personal protective equipment.
The SNP MSP said: “We all have a role to play in Scotland’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and it’s now more important than ever to consider shopping locally and supporting the brilliant local businesses in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
“The Scotland Loves Local campaign, which will provide grants of between £500 and £5000, encourages people to think how they can safely support people to shop, eat and relax within their community while ensuring public health safety.
“It is an exciting opportunity for local projects and locally based online businesses to support town centres and promote their local community.
"This new fund will be a real boost for communities across Caithness, Sutherland and Ross."
The funding is being provided by the Scottish Government and administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership.
Scotland's communities secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We know money spent locally is more likely to stay in the local economy and support local jobs. The Scotland Loves Local campaign encourages people to think how they can safely support this.
“This fund will help initiatives supporting businesses, such as projects to encourage safe shopping, business and leisure opportunities, promoting and advertising local providers of online shopping or enhancing visitor appeal.
“We all have a part to play in Scotland’s economic recovery and can do so, while we look out for one another and follow the guidance.”
Phil Prentice, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, said: “This is an exceptional opportunity for local communities – a chance to get the funding that will unlock some brilliant creativity.
"We've seen throughout the Scotland Loves Local campaign that people all over the country want to back their local towns and places. We're looking forward to seeing some brilliant ideas take shape.
"Our campaign is highlighting that money spent locally stays local for longer. This new fund will be a real boost for communities across the country."
Applications to the fund close on Friday, November 25.