SHOPS in Springburn and Balornock are benefitting from a £10,000 grant to boost the recovery from Covid-19.

Money awarded to social landlord ng homes is being used to provide a transport shopper service, create a local directory of businesses and cover the cost of some physical distancing measures and PPE.

It has come from the Towns and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Resilience and Recovery Fund, financed by the Scottish Government and administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership.

The social landlord currently hosts the Business Improvement District in Possilpark, working alongside a steering group of local traders.

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The ‘shopper service’ will help people get to their local shopping centres, providing support for those “who are less confident” due to shielding or isolation.

A directory, with local businesses and support organisations, will be available digitally and in print for the community.

Physical distancing and hand sanitising materials will be provided to businesses.

The initiative was launched last week at two shops on Springburn Way – Snack@Jax and Milanos Barber Shop.

Jacqui Colquhoun, from Snack@Jax, said: “It was a very unsettling time when we closed down after trading for the last six years.

“We received help from Business Support Grant which helped to cover some of our overheads and now that we have reopened, we are working hard to maintain our business.

“We rely on local customers, whether it is people who live here or work in the area.

“We welcome this initiative and local directory to let people know that we are back in business.”

And Paul McCann, who owns Milanos with Gerard Deeney, said: “It has been a difficult time during the Covid crisis coming to terms with the lockdown of a business that has thrived over the past 18 years and the uncertainly that came with it.

“In the first couple of weeks that we were opened we had a steady stream of customers coming in to get their haircuts.

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“However, I think there are still people who are less confident about going shopping as they don’t know what to expect.

“Hopefully, this initiative will help to support people to get transport down to the local shopping area and the business directory will let new customers know that we are here and encourage them book an appointment with us.”

John Thorburn, chairman of ng homes, said the community spirit shown through the crisis must continue.

Phil Prentice, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, added: “We are pleased that the work will touch on so many towns as we encourage everyone to think local first - and safety first - to support the businesses and the people behind them who really are at the heart of the areas in which they live.”