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.”
Two of Scotland’s finest chefs have created mouthwatering vegan recipes for students staying in University of Edinburgh accommodation.
The nutritious meal suggestions – devised by Michelin-starred Martin Wishart and Tom Kitchin – are part of a range of recipe cards to be included in food packages for students if they are self-isolating in halls.
The Edinburgh-born chefs have developed their recipes with student kitchens in mind. Each uses a variety of high-quality, fresh vegetables and herbs, and take less than 30 minutes to prepare and cook.
Tom Kitchin – chef and owner of award-winning restaurant The Kitchin, The Scran & Scallie, Southside Scran and The Bonnie Badger – launched the project by creating a fragrant tofu and noodle broth.
Martin Wishart (above), proprietor of the award-winning Restaurant Martin Wishart, has prepared a colourful vegan box with stir-fried vegetables and chilli noodles.
Much-loved local eateries Bross Bagels and Civerinos Slice have also created vibrant meal suggestions for students to enjoy.
The recipe cards are the latest addition to the package of support students receive if they are required to self-isolate in University accommodation due to Covid-19 restrictions. University chefs have also created recipes, which include jackfruit casserole, chilli bean ragu and smoked mackerel fillets with potatoes.
University staff are working 24-hours a day to ensure that students receive a balanced diet, with self-isolation packs consisting of three meals a day to students in catered halls as well as up to 800 grocery boxes per week for those in self-catered. Essential items are also being delivered on request.
Staff have been delivering up to 2,400 packed meals per day to students in catered halls and more than 800 grocery boxes per week to those in self-catered across 48 different locations.
Round-the-clock care is also on hand to ensure that students can speak with staff either on the phone or in person if they have any worries or concerns. As well as counselling and online support services, the University has almost 200 Residence Assistants and Wardens on site to help students.
From Friday, the University is asking students to share their kitchen creations on social media to win a three-course meal from The Scran & Scallie or Civerinos Slice for their household.
Chef Tom Kitchin said: “This is a really brilliant initiative by University of Edinburgh and I am delighted to support it. We all know that eating well and planning a good meal start with the use of good ingredients.
“With a little bit of imagination and some cooking tips along the way, some students might discover a love for cooking. Times are challenging for many so it’s more important than ever that we stick together and support the community, especially the young generation in all this. I’m excited to see what dishes the students will come up with and what new ideas are coming our way.”
Carina Svensen, Director of Accommodation, Catering and Events at the University of Edinburgh, said: “We are thrilled to provide students with these fantastic recipe ideas and work with local businesses.
“Tom and Martin are renowned for championing fresh Scottish produce, and Bross Bagels and Civerinos Slice are really popular, so we are sure this will be a hit with our students.
“This year has been tough on all of us, but I hope that this will give our students a boost and encourage them to showcase their creative flair. We are keen to continue this initiative and work with other Edinburgh businesses to create more exciting opportunities for our students.”
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs said: “This an excellent initiative from celebrity Michelin-starred chef’s Martin Wishart and Tom Kitchin.
“Students starting university this year have faced far more challenges than a usual student intake and this is friendly gesture which acknowledges these challenges.
“Since the start of this year, looking out for each other and sticking together has been hugely important and this is another example of the kindness on show in local communities.”
Tom Kitchin and Martin Wishart back Pilton Community Health Project crowdfunding campaign launched today.
Two of Edinburgh’s – and Scotland’s – top chefs have added their support to the campaign to keep the closure-threatened Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP) open.
Martin Wishart and Tom Kitchin today helped launch a crowdfunding campaign that aims to raise at least £50,000 to help prevent PCHP having to close its doors to some of North Edinburgh’s most vulnerable residents.
PCHP, which is Scotland’s oldest community health project, was told in late December last year that its funding was being withdrawn by the new Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board for health and social care funding in the city.
In the 35 years it has been in existence, PCHP has transformed thousands of lives. The project provides a range of services to fight the often overwhelming results of health inequality in Edinburgh including mental health counselling, tackling food insecurity, cooking groups and community meals, tackling social isolation and loneliness, community crèche for local affordable childcare, and support for victims of domestic abuse.
By raising £50,000 the campaign will allow PCHP to continue to deliver a reduced level of its life changing services, for 12 months, until longer-term funding is secured again.
allows anyone to pledge a donation – large or small – to ensure the project can continue its lifeline services.
Both Tom Kitchin and Martin Wishart have offered incentives and rewards to boost the project’s 28 day #SavePCHP crowdfunding campaign, including Dinner for two Tasting menus and matching wines at their Michelin-starred Leith restaurants – The Kitchin and Restaurant Martin Wishart – for the first donors to pledge £1,000 or more.
Other generous donations have been made by the top chefs and these will be revealed at the Launch today, and throughout the campaign on www.savepchp.com and on social media.
Launching the crowd-funding campaign for PCHP, Tom Kitchin and Martin Wishart said: “We are delighted to add our support to this campaign.
“Leith and North Edinburgh have played a big part in our story so it’s great to be involved in saving the lifelines so many local people rely on.
“We are passionate about food, and about food education and food security, and PCHP plays a really important role in ensuring everyone can access and cook healthy, nutritious meals. It’s vital that these and other services continue.”
Between January and December 2018, PCHP has:
Provided mental health counselling to around 50 pupils at local high schools
Worked with 42 people to provide adult counselling assessment appointments and 48 people attend regular counselling
Supported over 140 women who are victims of domestic abuse or facing other difficulties in their lives
Supported over 353 people who are new and settled immigrants, from 20 different countries
Helped over 788 people access hot nutritious food and make social connections through community meals
Provided 204 people with regular cooking groups, clubs and/or food related training leading to qualifications
Supported 602 people and their families to access food through our local Sharing Shelves initiative and tackle holiday hunger with family food boxes
Encouraged and supported over 467 people to lead healthier lives by getting them more physically active
Trained and supported 30 local volunteer physical activity leaders
Worked with 933 people and linked them into 249 services and resources through the GP Link Worker Service
