Save the date! Friday 22nd March 2024, Norton Park Conference Centre
We are pleased to announce that our new Cash First Toolkit – designed to support Community Food staff and volunteers with knowledge, skills and confidence around Cash First – has been published!
Read more here: https://bit.ly/4bIQk62
Join us on 22nd March to hear how Community Food staff have used the toolkit and what more we can do to support people through a cash first approach.
More details coming soon 
Changes to a key Scottish Government benefit will see an estimated 20,000 people able to access money to help with the cost of food shopping for the first time.
Rule changes around eligibility for Best Start Foods come into force today, (Monday Feb 26) extending eligibility by making it easier to qualify.
Best Start Foods, which was paid to more than 46,000 people in 2022/23, is money every four weeks to help pay for healthy food from pregnancy until a child turns three.
It’s delivered on a pre-paid chip and pin card which can be used in most stores and online.
Before the changes which come into force today, it was paid to people who receive qualifying benefits as long as their incomes did not pass certain limits. Those income thresholds have now been removed in a move which means thousands more will be able to successfully apply for a card.
Other rule changes have made it simpler for eligible young parents to receive the benefit.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “This is an important day for the Scottish Government in terms of our mission to tackle poverty and protect people from harm.
“In 2024-25 we are committing a record £6.3 billion for benefits expenditure, providing support to over 1.2 million people.
“This is £1.1 billion more than the UK Government gives to the Scottish Government for social security, demonstrating our commitment to tackling poverty.
“Making this investment allows us to take measures like the one which comes into force today – giving critical help with buying healthy foods to those who need it most.
“It will further benefit the whole economy when cards are used and the cash is spent.”
The changes were welcomed by charity Edinburgh Community Food Aid Network. Chief Executive Officer, Brenda Black said: “The importance of nourishing food for both mother-to-be and infant cannot be overstated: the first 1000 days of a child’s life are crucial for growth, development, and long-term health.
“We welcome the positive changes in ‘Best Start Foods’ to help thousands of extra families in Scotland access a healthier diet.
“Edinburgh Community Food’s team of skilled nutritionists promotes Best Start Foods’ within our communities, to improve and sustain the health and wellbeing of future generations of Scots.”
COMMUNITY EVENT – WEDNESDAY 29 NOVEMBER from 9.30am
TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER 11.30am – 1.30pm
at OUT OF THE BLUE DRILL HALL, DLAMENY STREET
You are invited to our 2023 AGM on Tuesday 10th October
Where: Out of the Blue, Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh
When: 11.30am – 1.30pm
We’d be delighted if you can join us to hear all about what we’ve been up to over the past year. A light lunch will be provided at 12pm.
Please book a place here: https://edinburghcommunityfoodagm2023.eventbrite.co.uk
We hope to see you there!
Do you have a little one(s) aged 6 months – 3 years? Would you like to learn more about encouraging positive behaviours around food in a safe and supportive environment?
Why not join Sally and Jules this Wednesday from 10am-11am Pilton Community Health Project , we’d love to welcome you and your wee one(s).
Booking is essential and these sessions run each week for a total of 4 weeks. Please register using the link below or by contacting us via email (details on poster).
Link: https://forms.office.com/e/PnCrjDLJLA
Hope to see you soon!
Stepping Stones North Edinburgh
Are you interested in learning healthy eating habits for you and your family? Whether you live alone, have small children, or are caring for an elderly person, this course offers something for everyone!
This informative and useful course is packed with clearly delivered information that aims to cut through all the mixed messages around nutrition. It is designed for anyone with an interest in food, health and wellbeing, for those who currently work or volunteer with food in any capacity, and also useful for those interested in a career within the food industry.
Get up-to-date nutritional advice and learn from Jo Howie, a qualified nutritionist from Edinburgh Community Food. This course will run over two days; Tuesday the 18th of April and Wednesday the 19th of April 9.30am – 1pm.
Spaces are limited so please book your spot in advance via the link below or by scanning the QR code.
Link: REHIS Food and Health | Edinburgh Community Food Ltd
Any questions, please feel free to get in touch with either myself (Jules) or Jo – both our contact details are on the attached poster. Look forward to seeing you there!
COMMUNITY ANCHOR AWARDS TO EIGHT EDINBURGH PROJECTS
Community led groups across Scotland are today sharing in over £1.5 million of National Lottery funding to distribute to individuals most vulnerable to the cost-of-living pressures.
The latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to 73 groups means that well targeted support from food or fuel provision and access to warm clothing or electric blankets can be distributed immediately in response to the challenges that people are currently facing on a day-to-day basis.
Eight Edinburgh projects received grants. There’s £28,600 for Edinburgh Commmunity Food, who will work to support their community who have been particularly affected by the cost- of- living crisis.
Bridgend Farmhouse will support their local community by running warm spaces sessions, setting up a crisis fund and piloting some affordable eating sessions in schools – they receive £19,580.
Edinburgh Community Health Forum applied for Community Anchor funding on behalf of its eight member organisations so that they can support people and families most affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
They receive £26,491 which will be used to provide support including food and food vouchers, community meals, cooking sessions, access to warm spaces and warm clothing.
Restalrig’s The Ripple Project was awarded £25,232.
This group will support people most in need due the cost-of-living crisis by providing food, heating, warm clothing and blankets, laundry, cheaper cooking options and transport.
There’s funding, too, for Old Town Development Trust, Home-Start Edinburgh, Lister Housing Co-operative and Prospect Community Housing.
Elsewhere in Scotland, an award of £23,500, Annexe Communities will provide emergency provisions to local people and households in Partick.
As well as distributing food vouchers, clothing vouchers and energy top ups the group will be able to run a soup social and provide soup packs with all the relevant ingredients needed for people to make their favourite soups at home.
The money means that the Annexe can continue this work which began during the COVID-19 pandemic helping many more people like 41-year-old Kelly Young from Partick. Kelly is mother to four children and was referred to the Annexe when she lost her job in December 2021.
Struggling to keep up with rent payments and put food on the table, Kelly lost two stone in six weeks because she wanted to make sure that her children ate first.
Over the last year Annexe Communities have been there for Kelly providing advice, food parcels and fuel vouchers. Kelly said: “I now have a job as a cleaner and am working hard to support my family as best I can. I have always been a believer in being able to help yourself but when you are in such a deep hole it’s impossible.
“It took a lot for me to swallow my pride and admit that I needed help for me and my family but the truth of it is that I am out working and I still can’t manage. Pay day becomes pay away day and I am constantly living on my overdraft – it’s a never-ending cycle.
“That’s why places like the Annexe are so important right now, they keep contact with me and it’s good to know that people are there for me and that it’s a safe place for me to come and not sit in my house stressed and isolated.”
Jane Cowie, Development Worker, Annexe Communities, said: “This funding means we can support struggling local families and people over the next few months so they can eat and are able to heat their homes.
“We have joined forces with other local organisations and are using our collective knowledge to work together and to reach and to help as many people in need. The money means we get the relevant support to people who need it now.”
Announcing the funding, Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said: “This latest round of funding is just one of the ways our National Lottery funding is being distributed to organisations who will directly support people and communities facing very difficult circumstances.
“Local charities and community groups are fully aware what’s going on right now in their local areas and are therefore best placed to deliver this support quickly so there’s no delay with providing people with the help they so desperately need.
“It’s all thanks to National Lottery players that they can continue this vital work.”
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.
Full list of projects:
Would you like to learn how to cook some new recipes and learn about food, nutrition and looking after your oral health? Sign up for our new cooking course at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre in partnership with LINKnet Mentoring.
We will be delivering a FREE 6 week course starting Thursday 2nd February from 1pm to 3pm. Come and join us for some fun activities, food and meet new people!
If you would like to know more or to sign up, please contact Emma at 
emma.hamill@edinburghcommunityfood.org.uk, 
0131 467 7326 or sign up online at https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx…
#communitycooking#community#cookingclass#freecookingclass#healthyeatingmadeeasy#healthyeatingrecipes#cookclub#sugarreduction#sugar#oralhealth#infantoralhealth#childhoodnutrition#familysmiles#sustainablecooking#nutritionistedinburgh
Come & join our FREE 8 week Eat Well for Oral Health – cooking and nutrition sessions at @PiltonComHealth starting Tues 20th Sept from 10am-12noon.
To find out more, contact jo.howie@edinburghcommunityfood.org.uk or tel: 0131 467 7326.
Health Issues in the Community (HIIC) is a course that helps people understand what affects their health & the health of their communities. HIIC supports people to develop the skills & knowledge to address health issues using community development approaches & bring about change.
Through a small grant from Edinburgh PACT’s Capacity to Collaborate fund we (Edinburgh Community Food, Inspiring Leith, YMCA and Port of Leith) will be running a HIIC course in Leith early next year – more details coming soon!
Before that we want to give workers, who might not be familiar with the course, the chance to find out more about it and what it might be like for people who want to participate in the full course.
We’ve also got a small amount of funds to support local workers attend the full HIIC training for trainers if these sessions inspire you!
The next 2 sessions will take place from 12 – 1.30 on the 14th and 21st of September at the Hibs Foundation Community Space, North Stand Entrance of Easter Road Stadium.
Book your place by filling in this form: https://forms.office.com/r/Qjd48Fcs4d
