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Housing on the agenda for Inverurie's Rotarians


By David Porter

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President Kay Diack welcomed 28 members and guests to this week's Zoom meeting of the Rotary Club of Inverurie.

Allan Jones
Allan Jones

Following the normal committee reports,courtesies and notifications from 'Head Office', Rotary District 1010 Neill Baillie brought members up to date on the activities of the Associates Group.

As Rotarian Jim McColl explained: "Their principal task in recent weeks has been to help homeless people who are about to be housed, by providing them with basic, essential items.

"Concurrently, the Associates are still working to attract more like-minded people willing to join them.

"Our guest speaker was Allan Jones Aberdeenshire's Housing Manager for our area.

"Housing has been his focus for 16 years but on this occasion Allan's theme was centred on Homelessness and what the Council is doing to tackle the problem and the consequences.

"Not surprisingly, current pressures centre round Covid-19, which has resulted in a dramatic rise in unemployment and with it, an increase in homelessness.

"The Housing team have been working tirelessly, day and night in their efforts to help find accommodation for what must seem at times an endless queue of people in dire need.

"The Council's residential unit has been available to provide safe short term shelter for such homeless people. Not surprisingly perhaps, the majority of homeless are single men.

"Allan then gave us an analysis of the size and style of properties available to the Council to house the many on that waiting list, currently standing at over 800.

"Needless to say, there was a host of questions from members, an indication of the intense level of interest and concern felt by all of us.

"Our thanks were expressed by John Nicol."

Jim continued: ""Over the last three weeks, our guest speakers have covered a wide range of subjects which affect the daily lives of all of us living in Inverurie.

"Lessons have been learned and at times you can almost hear the old brain cells ticking as Rotarians begin to formulate their version of 'What can we do to help?

"In other words these three sessions have undoubtedly left members better informed about the needs of our society, focussing our thoughts on what we should be doing currently for the society we live in.

"No surprise there because that's one pillar of the Rotary movement!

"Watch this space!".


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