GET
INVOLVED
Share a little bit more?
Could you share ideas/equipment/facilities with others?
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When we all share what we have, we can enable others to develop and deliver community food initiatives that they might not otherwise have had the resources to deliver.
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Are you an organisation with a space that could be converted into a public living room/food pantry or a room that a community group could use to host a meal?
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Do you have a kitchen, approved for catering, which you could lend to others?
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Do you have transport such as a van or a minibus, to transport people to events or to make food deliveries?
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Do you have a professional trade such as joinery/plumbing/electrical and could provide a local project with free help to prepare a building or room for a community food initiative?
Share ?
Grow a little bit more?
Could you offer a growing space for a community project?
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Across the Western Isles, there are an increasing number of community spaces where groups and individuals can grow fresh produce, learn and share skills and take part in activities that they may not be able to do independently.
Current community growing spaces include:
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The Jubilee Community Garden in Lews Castle College grounds (Volunteering Hebrides). Contact us to access ;
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Polytunnel at Third Sector Hebrides;​​
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Perhaps your organisation has some land or space in a poly-tunnel that you could donate? Do you have a croft with some space that could be used for a community-growing project?
Grow ?
Volunteer a little bit more?
Could you donate your time to a community food idea?
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Volunteering is an incredibly rewarding experience. Giving a little time each week can make a huge difference in your local community and, without the amazing volunteers across our islands, many local initiatives would not exist.
There are lots of ways to get involved in supporting a local Souper Food Initiative: from helping preparing food; setting up rooms for group events; welcoming participants; serving refreshments; providing transport as well as ongoing roles such as fundraising and sharing information on the support available to friends and neighbours.
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To find out more about the range of opportunities available, have a look at the Volunteer Centre Western Isles website (https://volunteercentrewi.org) or contact a local project directly.
Volunteer ?
Connect a little bit more?
Could you join the Souper Food Initiative Network and keep up to date with what’s happening across the Western Isles?
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There are community food initiatives taking place across the Western Isles such as:
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The Western Isles Food Partnership, created by Tagsa Uibhist, brings together representatives from the local authority, health board, public sector establishments, food growers, retailers, and the hospitality sector to transform local food production and consumption into a more sustainable system. ​
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Lewis and Harris Horticultural Producers organise farmers markets, enabling local growers to sell their produce whilst supporting local communities to access fresh, sustainable food.
By joining together as members of the Souper Food Initiative Network, we can work together, as individuals, organisations, employers and food producers, learning from each other and sharing ideas, resources and skills so that we can achieve so much more in tackling food poverty.
Connect ?
Cook a little bit more?
Could you cook extra portions at an event to be taken away and distributed amongst the community?
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By doubling up on ingredients and increasing the numbers of meals produced, the impacts of serving food at an event can be much greater, feeding more people of all ages and backgrounds, including those who are housebound or those who might not come forward to ask for support but would accept a takeaway meal. Cooking extra portions involves relatively little additional work, whilst buying ingredients in bulk reduces the cost per portion.
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During the winter months, Volunteering Hebrides operated a serve one, take away one at each of their Islanders! ‘Winter Warmers’ Butty and Blether events. This meant the take away portion could be given to family members, friends and neighbours, increasing the impact of the project and the number of people supported.
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Cook ?
Organise a little bit more?
Could you create more events and opportunities to share and provide food?
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Providing events and opportunities to share food doesn’t need to involve lots of additional work or have a high cost. If you are already holding events or group sessions, could you add an additional free food element e.g. providing toast or fruit with a cup of tea or coffee?
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Tong Toddlers, in Lewis, responded to need in their community by providing a fruit and toast breakfast for children and their carers attending their sessions.
Even if you don’t have catering facilities or the people power to cook meals, could you provide meals such as pasta pots, cuppa soups and porridge pots?
Participants can make these for themselves with access to a kettle.
Third Sector Hebrides added a food pantry to their Camerados Public Living Room, open to everyone, providing breakfast and lunches which people can access anonymously and easily.
Organise?
