Prospect Community Housing is delighted to announce that it will receive £245,740 from the Aspiring Communities Fund which is supported by the European Social Fund and Scottish Government to enhance social inclusion and combat poverty across Scotland. This funding is for Tasting Change, a local partnership initiative that aims to respond to local priorities and aspirations for a stronger community in Wester Hailes through tackling the deprivation levels and inequalities created by food insecurity.
This is a problem in our community that extends beyond nutrition. When people are worried about not having enough food for themselves and their families, their health is affected, they become more isolated and they are less likely to take part in community life. Tasting Change aims to develop and deliver community led solutions to food insecurity that strengthen community connections with an emphasis on dignity and sustainability. The funding will support a variety of activities including a food co-op offering affordable healthy food, cooking and healthy eating workshops, accredited food and hygiene training, volunteering opportunities, shared meals, employability support, and income maximisation advice. Tasting Change will work through all these activities to support community cohesion and capacity building.
As a community based housing association, Prospect Community Housing is proud to be firmly rooted within Wester Hailes. Our locally led Board is committed to playing an active role in improving the quality of life for local residents and in enabling activity that contributes to a stable, vibrant community. We are therefore very pleased to be the lead partner in the innovative cross sector partnership that is delivering Tasting Change working alongside The Health Agency, SCOREscotland, WHALE Arts Agency, CHAI, Wester Hailes Medical Practice, City of Edinburgh Council Communities and Families, and Edinburgh Community Food.
Prospect’s Director Brendan Fowler said,
I am really pleased that with this grant from the Aspiring Communities Fund we can work collaboratively with key local partners on this exciting project that will address the effects of food insecurity but also support greater community resilience and empowerment.
The £18.5 million Aspiring Communities Fund is delivered by Social Justice and Regeneration Division, Scottish Government as Lead Partner for the 2014-2020 ESF Programme. It will help enable community bodies and third sector organisations in the most deprived and fragile communities to develop and delivery long- term local solutions that address local priorities and needs, increase active inclusion and build on the assets of local communities to reduce poverty and to enable inclusive growth.
For more information please contact Caroline Richards 0131 272 5025, caroline.richards@prospectch.org.uk
Pingback: Tasting Change in Wester Hailes.