Further call for Community Food Fund applications
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Aberdeenshire Council is reminding local community groups that it is still accepting applications to its Community Food Fund.
Earlier this year the council made funds available to support local projects tackling food security in north-east communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then a number of community and resilience groups from Stonehaven to New Pitsligo have been supported financially to provide much-needed support to residents.
In Kincardine and Mearns, the Coronavirus Community Care Group for Portlethen and Surrounding Areas received £1500 to provide essential food items and snacks for children.
The Haven Community Larder in Stonehaven was awarded £1440 for the purchase of fresh food, printing of weekly recipe cards to cook with food from the larder and the purchase of Co-op vouchers.
Number One Banchory’s project is aimed at reducing food insecurity by providing affordable fresh local produce and promoting a healthier diet by creating a community greengrocer.
The £2000 it received from the Community Food Fund is enabling it to provide emergency aid in partnership with other groups, help establish a community grocer which is open six days a week in Banchory and provide cooking and budgeting workshops using the ‘Confidence to Cook’ programme.
Elsewhere in Aberdeenshire, the Mid Deeside Community Trust was tasked with delivering food and frozen prepared food to the community of Aboyne.
It is also establishing a food bank and was in receipt of £1000 to purchase shelving, cool storage and training for volunteers.
The New Pitsligo and St Johns School Parent Council, meanwhile, received £920 towards the cost of a new greenhouse from which the school and wider community can benefit.
The planters and help with installing the greenhouse are coming from Fraserburgh Men’s Shed and will be filled by the school garden club and eco group hub as well as school pupils as part of their curriculum.
Fruit and veg will be made available to the local community.
The Aberdeenshire Community Food Fund accepts applications aiming to tackle food security such as constituted groups, registered charities or partnerships involving local organisations with a constituted body as lead partner.
It is not available to individuals or private organisations operating as a business to make a profit.
Aberdeenshire Council, in association with housing associations, employability services and other partners, has developed a new food strategy which is looking at not only the use of foodbanks, but access to good quality affordable food, community allotments and gardens to support our communities.
The council has been allocated just over £1 million for its wider Food Fund from a nationwide Scottish Government allocation of £30million.
The initiatives will address food insecurity for those families and households experiencing poorer socio-economic outcomes or address health barriers and enable a continued response to the needs of communities during transition and recovery.
Applications to the Aberdeenshire Community Food Fund will be assessed by the local area managers office and funds will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
If approved, funds will be awarded within 20 working days of the application being made.
For information on the criteria and to submit an application, visit https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/communities-and-events/funding/community-resilience-covid-19/#apply
