Tag: Beat Hunger campaign

Great feedback: Praise for Leith police Beat Hunger campaign

The ‘Beat Hunger’ Campaign is aimed at tackling food inequality and poverty in the North East of Edinburgh and has continued its drive to improve community wellbeing.

Over the last month, the North East Community Policing Team have distributed 112 ‘Beat Boxes’ to 28 identified vulnerable families and young adults referred to us by partners including Community Renewal Edinburgh, Dr Bell’s Family Centre, Castleview Primary School and Children 1st.

We’ve completed 23 recipient evaluation questionnaires and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Here’s a sample of the feedback sent to us:

‘Great way of police being involved in community projects’ – Taylor.

‘This really got me back into cooking after losing the enjoyment for a while. My kids loved it and the recipes took me out my comfort zone’ – Rebecca.

‘It has been good for breaking the barrier between police and a young guy like me in a good way’ – James.

‘You made my family and I so happy, I don’t know how to thank you’ – Nora.

‘Thank you so much for the Beat the Hunger boxes for our families. The feedback has been amazing, all of these initiatives really do make a difference’ – Castleview Primary School.

Local community Sergeant Elaine McArthur-Kerr of Leith Police Station said: “This initiative is directly aligned to our purpose to improve the wellbeing of our people, places and communities and acknowledges the increasing shift within Police Scotland to adopt a public health, whole system approach to tackling many of the complex issues faced by a significant proportion of the people our officers & staff come into contact with.

“This fantastic and innovative opportunity to encourage positive lifestyle choices has generated considerable public support and has been recognised by Local Policing East ACC Tim Mairs.

“Plans to develop the initiative alongside local priorities are ongoing and we hope to circulate the community cook book to all in the city in the near future.”

Beat Hunger campaign launched

Police Scotland, in partnership with Edinburgh North East Foodbank and Edinburgh Community Foods have launched the ‘Beat Hunger’ Campaign.

The North East of Edinburgh contains some of the highest levels of poverty in Scotland and this campaign is aimed at tackling food inequality and poverty funded by Police Scotland’s Local Partnership and Initiative Fund.

Local Community Sergeant Elaine McArthur-Kerr of Leith Police Station said: “As an organisation and as employees, we have a responsibility to improve the lives and futures of our community, particularly our children.

“This campaign will initially be open to identified groups within the foodbank community and thereafter extended to the wider community through referrals nominated by our partners.

“Recipients will be supplied with free additional support in the appropriately titled ‘Beat Box’, which will include a community cook book with recipes by Michelin Star Chef Martin Wishart.

“This book contains simple nutritious meals, which can be cooked using the most basic cooking facilities and includes step by step instructions and tips on food management. The recipes cater for those with no cookery skills and will provide an at home activity for families.

“Each week there will be fresh ingredients, supplied by Capital Wholesalers and the utensils required to cook a meal from the book. For example, this week launches with a butternut squash soup and following weeks will include main meals and a pudding.

“Information on family, financial and mental health support literature will also be included.

“Promoting wellbeing is key to ensuring the health and safety of our community and this is a fantastic opportunity to support some of the most vulnerable during unprecedented times and encourage positive lifestyle choices.

“Working together with partners, we can improve the quality of life for the people we serve.”

Community Police to launch Beat Hunger campaign

North East Edinburgh Community Policing Team will be launching the ‘Beat Hunger’ campaign in the coming weeks aimed at tackling food inequality and food poverty in the area.

Sergeant Elaine McArthur-Kerr, from Leith Community Policing Team said: “The Beat Hunger campaign will initially be open to identified groups within the foodbank community who will receive additional support to their foodbank emergency food boxes.

“We are building on positive relationships that exist between the police and the wider community for this project which has been funded by Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr’s Local Partnership and Initiative fund.

“Police Scotland is committed to working with communities and protecting those who are vulnerable. Our aim is to adopt a joint approach with our partners who are participating in the campaign, to help improve physical and mental health while positively promoting healthy eating and assisting with lifelong learning.

“Additional support supplied in the ‘Beat Box’ by police will include a recipe book by Edinburgh-born Michelin star chef Martin Wishart from local ‘Restaurant Martin Wishart’ containing simple nutritious meals cooked using basic utensils with step-by-step instructions.”

The recipes will accommodate those with no cookery skills & provide activity for those with families. The book also includes tips on food management and budgetting. In addition, the recipe book will contain signposting to additional support, such as mental health and family support.

There will be a selection of basic cookery utensils and fresh nutritious ingredients to supplement long life items typically issued by foodbanks and items typically found within the household.

Keep an eye on Edinburgh Police social media for updates on the #BeatHunger campaign.