Hundreds of Fife Council staff have volunteered to change jobs to keep the region’s critical services running amid the coronavirus crisis.
Team Fife, as the movement has been dubbed, has enlisted 940 employees from the local authority and its trusts.
Staff from all sectors have stepped into unfamiliar roles as departments have been depleted by illness and self-isolation.
As a grounds maintenance operative, Andrew Farmer, 41, of Cupar, might normally cut grass around north-east Fife.
Now he empties householders’ bins as a refuse collector.
He said: “I was taken aback when I got a phone call from the head of service thanking me for what I was doing.
“At times like this you have to step up to the plate and do what you can do.”
Housing management officer Robert Bennett, 51, of Halbeath, is now delivering essential supplies to the region’s homeless hostels with wife Jacqueline Purdie, 51.
He said: “It’s all hands to the deck.
“I could have made the choice to work in the house with my laptop but I would much rather be hands on and be involved.”
Trades union officer Kenny McCallum, 57, of Dysart, and one of his colleagues have returned to their old roles in homeless hostels, after seeing increased demand.
He said: “There was never any question we would go back and help the service.”
Safer communities co-ordinator Julie Cargill, 49, of Cowdenbeath, is helping elderly people at a sheltered housing complex in Glenrothes.
She said: “Although my job is important it’s not as critical as the job I’m doing now. I could only have done so much at home with a laptop.”
Others in Team Fife include former nurse Fiona Ashton-Jones, a physical activity co-ordinator moving into social care, and project officer Bill Harley who is making pharmacy deliveries for Fife Voluntary Action.
Fife Council has matched the skills and experience of staff volunteers to essential roles it needs filled.
Employees are being trained to provide care at home if required, while others are to support children in residential care and deliver food to vulnerable people.
Chief executive Steve Grimmond said: “This is the most challenging time the council has ever faced.
“A lot of work is going on behind the scenes and by staff from home to make sure we can continue to deliver vital services and I’d just like to say how delighted I am at everyone’s team spirit.
“We appreciate how worrying a time this is for people, but council staff are taking up new roles to keep delivering vital services and protect them, and our communities, as far as possible.
“I’d like to thank all our staff for working together to help keep our public services running and I’d like to thank members of the public for their ongoing support.”
