New Kitchen Funding

Forth Valley Sensory Centre is delighted to have received £17,800 in funding to redevelop the training kitchen so we can provide cooking classes to the local community.

The Centre is one of 20 community food projects across Falkirk which will share £300,000 in funding from the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund.

The Falkirk Food Futures funding pot, delivered by charity Forth Environment Link (FEL) in partnership with NHS Forth Valley, CVS Falkirk and Falkirk Council, will help improve access to local food for local people. At the Centre, this will include helping people build confidence in the kitchen to prepare their own food from scratch, reduce waste and eat sustainably as well as be healthier!

Some of the other projects to be funded include:

• Supporting California Community Hub to create a community learning space where people can develop their cooking skills, as well as providing regular opportunities for the community to eat together socially.
• Enhancing Falkirk Islamic Centre’s weekly food drop-in service and working to upskill volunteers and participants on cooking and food preparation.
• Creating a training kitchen for young people at Sheildhill Welfare Club, where they can develop front of house skills and gain barista experience, alongside the creation of outdoor growing areas.

Frank McChord, Operational Lead with Falkirk Council’s Community Learning and Development Unit said: “It is encouraging to see the positive impact Falkirk Food Futures is having on the communities we work with. Already we are seeing huge enthusiasm to develop ideas into projects, which simply would not have been possible without this funding.” 

Lynsey Hanford, Development Officer with CVS Falkirk added: “The third sector has been at the forefront of supporting communities throughout the pandemic, and this funding is vital in helping these organisations do what they do best, which is improving access to healthy food.

“We have witnessed, first hand, the massive community effort it has taken to ensure people had access to the support services they needed over the last two years. This financial boost to these groups and organisations not only recognises what they have achieved, but will allow them to develop more sustainable food solutions that suit their own local communities.”

Falkirk Food Futures aims to continue and build on a wealth of the meaningful food and growing initiatives which have developed in the region over the past few years.

Emily Harvey, FEL Development Manager, added: “We are delighted to bring the Falkirk Food Futures programme to the area. Alongside the community grants, we will be providing access to a range of other support, including digital training and carbon literacy classes.

“We are seeing lots of excitement amongst the funded groups who can’t wait to get started and are all committed to improving access to nutritious, affordable, dignified food.”

Jacquie Winning MBE, Chief Executive at Forth Valley Sensory centre added:

“When people begin to lose their sight, confidence in the kitchen can be one of the first things to suffer. This creates a reliance on friends and family, care workers or ready meals. Our project will see a brand new, accessible kitchen installed at the Centre with classes run by our own blind cook David.

“Having sight and hearing loss himself, David understands the challenges and concerns of the community and offers a lot of practical support and guidance. Classes will not be limited to people with sight loss though as David has worked with a number of different community groups in the past so it is a really exciting development for us and we cannot wait to get started.”

Successful Falkirk community groups receiving Community Renewal Funding include: Forth Valley Sensory Centre, Rainbow Women’s Muslim Group, Larbert Village Allotment Association, Braes Greenspace, Sustainable Thinking Scotland CIC, Keeping Larbert and Stenhousemuir Beautiful, First Step Development, Dennyloanhead Community Hall, Hallglen Food Bank, Denny YMCA, California Community Hub, Grangemouth Pantry, Falkirk Islamic Centre, Shieldhill Welfare Club, Coo Park United, Westfield Park Community Centre, Tamfourhill Tenants and Residents Association, TCV, Larbert and District Childminders Association, Birch Tree Farm Gardens.

To find out about all our groups and classes take a look at our page here. You can also support our work with a donation or by fundraising. Take a look at our fundraising page to see how your money could help.