ALDI LIVINGSTON - HOUSTOUN PK

Charlies Old Codgers Foundation obtained charity status in 2017 and our main aim was to help elderly individuals in Scotland have a more enriched and posiiive outlook, thus reducing mental health issues and encouraging a more positive attitude to everyday life to overcome loneliness and isolation Our aims where to visit care homes, hospices and hospital residents with their pets to give them comfort and a chat when at their lowest. We engage in many activities: Charlies Time to Talk:: Morning/afternoon get togethers to discuss anything of interest to all participants Charlies Hear to Listen: musical or tv/radio shows of old, bringing back memories and stimulating the brain Charlies Tasty Bites: Remembering old recipes that conjure up memories from yester-year Charlies Seated Strictly: Dance moves whilst sitting, great fun and lots of exercise During lockdown things were unusually difficult for us keeping in touch so we also began (and will carry on) visiting, shopping and 24/7 phone line chatting with individuals who couldn't leave home or residential care. Thus creating a local community care scheme for all. Although we operate from the Scottish borders farmhouse, we cover the whole of Scotland. we identify those in need through word of mouth from gp surgeries, hospices, care homes and individuals. We are currently the only charity of this kind operating in Scotland. There is no charge for our services, we work strictly on donations Due to safety for elderly individual;s, we have no photographic evidence or names we provide. The food is (when on or past it's sell by date - which is only a day at most) brought back to the charity and given to the animals. As previously mentioned the food is mainly salad or fruit items. Sometimes there are flowers left over (Mothers Day for instance) and these are taken to the care homes and hospices.

We aim to provide affordable and accessible hospitality to families and individuals in Livingston. Presently operating through 2 community cafes in Livingston.

We aim to help people living in poverty, deprivation (and in work poverty-the working poor) as they have significantly worse life outcomes than those in average households. Individuals who do less well in life, are more likely to be unemployed or in poorly paid jobs and will generally have poorer health and shorter lives. This is a tragedy, but is a consequence of being born into poverty and living in poorer households. The area we engage with people are from Knightsridge. Knightsridge has decile zones that measure in the bottom 5% on the social index of multiple deprivation for West Lothian. Adjoining neighbourhoods who use our service; Carmondean, Deans and Ladywell, also measure highly on SIMD The Food Outlet is open 2 days a week Tuesday and Thursday. We collect food from the Neighbourly stores, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencers. The food is given free to the customers who attend the shop. The shop gets funding from West Lothian Food Network, which we use to buy fresh meat, dairy and frozen food. A donation is asked for these items. This allows the customers to come and pick out the food they like giving them dignity. This saves them lot of money on healthy food.