M&S Falkirk Simply Food

We deliver a 7 day food parcel and hygiene products to people facing a financial or personnel crisis. The foodbank works on a referral system, working with local government agencies, social services, NHS, Citizen's Advice, Doctors and health workers, plus various addiction, debt and housing agencies. We provide a home delivery service, by doing so we are able to cover all areas of the Falkirk District. By delivering to people's homes not only helps to reduce stigma. It also means we can deliver larger food parcels along with Toiletries, Nappies, Baby Food and Pet Food. With the aim of making it look like a Supermarket delivery. When required, we also supply, new children's beds, new warm bedding, plus cooking items and basic household items. By working with local food producers, we are also able to help with food redistribution to other local charities. We need volunteers to help with deliveries and food sorting, making up food boxes, assisting with running activities during those mornings where we host school visits, and anyone with online and web skills who can assist with our site migration and upgrade.

We work with Community Pantrys supplying food to local disadvantaged communities and Community Cafes supporting the development of volunteers and healthier options. Currently we provide groups in Basic budget cooking through which attendees learn to cook healthy affordable meals which they can take home. They gain skills, knowledge and confidence during a minimum of eight weeks and will achieve an Elementary Cooking Skills certificate. Cooking for one targets older people Family cooking Both Family Cooking and Cooking for One cook and eat together taking leftovers home. We have also piloted slow cooking courses both for families and single people as this is one of the most cost effective cooking methods available thus targeting both food and fuel poverty. We are currently working on cooking for Mental Health as part of a wider program. All groups learn food safety, cooking skills and have further training opportunities. For further information call 01324 503711

1st Step Development Ventures have teamed up with the Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC) to launch the exciting new “Falkirk Food Revolution” project from the Howgate Centre in Falkirk. We are a community pantry, open to anyone and everyone, whose aim is to help reduce food waste and to feed the local community in Falkirk. We offer good quality excess food donated by supermarkets and businesses. Food is available for free or for a small donation. 1st Step has many other community projects on the go in Falkirk/West Lothian: Weekly recovery meetings, Community Cafe (operates as a social enterprise), Community garden (offers courses in growing/healthy eating), and 1st Step Bikes (where people can learn how to refurb bikes). Our main purpose is to provide safe, supportive environments for people affected by addictions/poor mental health. We provide many opportunities for people to volunteer with us to help them gain confidence, build diverse supportive relationships, develop skills, learn and build better relationships with the wider community (really important to preventing relapse) and start to rebuild their lives.