Milngavie woman rediscovers her creativity to help people during the pandemic

Over the years Noeleen Mellers ensured brides across the area were set for their big day as she mainly concentrated on making wedding dresses.

She specialised in hand embroidery and hand beading, but could also be called upon for nativity costumes at her daughter’s school.

Nowadays, Noeleen is a level 2 support worker for the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) in Bearsden.

She works with homelessness and addiction services to support people to live in their own homes.

All of the people she supports have been homeless or are risk of homelessness and she supports them in all elements of their daily lives.

Although she loves supporting people, Noeleen had forgotten how much she loves being creative and has been using her skills to make facemasks for the people SAMH support, as well as local staff.

She said: “It all started when I was chatting to one of our service users on the phone. He mentioned he didn’t know how to get a facemask, so I offered to make one.

“I’ve kept lots of material from my old projects over the years so I already had all I needed. He said it was magic.

“Then another one of our service users said she was feeling quite anxious about going outside, so I made her a mask too. She says she feels much better now when she’s out and about which is great to hear

“Although I can’t see very clearly, I can feel and use my knowledge to keep me right – I always find a way.

“I was so determined to make these masks that I spent an hour trying to thread my sewing machine needle!

“Right now, I can make around 12 in a day. And I’ve just bought a tool to help me thread the needles so there will be no stopping me now! It feels great to be able to help people.”