Providing a dedicated container for a Community Toolbox initiative in Mid Craigie/Linlathen and storage for the Food Hub &Freecyle project which currently runs from Hub Library. Both projects run by local volunteers with the Toolbox Initiative providing items such as power washers, carpet cleaners and lawnmowers at a much reduced hire cost for local people. The Hub library is due to close to the public in August 2025, and this will allow services to continue sustainably.
Description
Local Priority: Improving local facilities to allow for more social, learning and creative activities
The grant will be used to purchase a container, to be sited outside East Housing Office, that will house both the Community Toolbox and storage for the Food Hub &Freecycle project (which currently runs from the Hub Library). At 45ft long, the container will be spilt into 2 sections, to house both Toolbox and Food Larder &Freecycle services. It will be insulated, fitted with shelving and have 2 separate entrances.
The Community Food Hub & Freecycle are a well-established service, run by members of the local community. They currently are based in the Hub Library, but this building will shortly close to the public and the service is planned to move to East District Housing office but need storage space.
The Community Toolbox is a new initiative, to be run by members of the local community, which offers local people the opportunity to hire items such as power washers, lawnmowers, carpet cleaners etc at very low cost. Volunteers will be responsible for this project, supported by Wellgate Community Toolbox who will provide insurance and admin support. Both local groups are working in partnership with Housing and Communities Teams through the Linlathen Fairness Initiative to bring vital services to the area.
There are many benefits to the local community of being able to provide these services through the grant award – Local people will have access to tools and equipment, on their doorstep and at a very affordable cost. They will also continue to have access to low cost, fresh, healthy food and good quality clothing and household goods at no cost and also the benefit of volunteering and training opportunities for local people and building their capacity to be instigators of change in their community. The Toolbox volunteers also believe that their service will build the capacity of residents to foster a sharing community with neighbours helping each other out e.g hiring a power washer to clear moss off a garden path and then clearing the path of an elderly neighbour.
The outcomes contributing to the Community Plan are – "We need a response to cost living crisis"
The project is also referenced in the Linlathen Fairness Initiative narrative inquiry recommendations which state that the food larder should continue to ensure people have dignified access to food.
In Spring of 2024, members of the community took part in a Columba 1400 course, exploring both their own development and that of their community of Mid Craigie/Linlathen. One of the outcomes of their participation was that people agreed there was a need for local people to have a service in their community that allowed them to improve homes and gardens at a low cost. This included garden tools, decorating
equipment, power washers, carpet cleaners etc. Developing this idea further, local people were consulted on the need for this and overwhelmingly agreed that this would be a valuable service to be able to access locally.
The Linlathen fairness Initiative has been successful in fostering a participatory approach with residents involved in budgeting, planning and delivering services such as the community Toolbox project and it is this approach which builds the capacity of people to be leaders of change in their community
The Community Food Hub & Freecycle has been running at the Hub library for 8 years and continues to run to full capacity. Local people who use this service have been consulted on the proposal to move it to the East Housing Office, with storage space in the container and have expressed positive responses to this proposal. Food Insecurity is a significant issue in this community which is affected by low-income, long-term unemployment and poor health. In particular, the community of Linlathen contains several data zones which fall within decile 1 and 2, indicating very high levels of deprivation.
A recent evaluation of the value of the Food Hub & Freecycle project, carried out with local people was evidenced by the following quotes -
‘Being able to buy a couple of bags of food here every week for £4 is a lifeline for me and my family’
‘It’s hard to put into words what the freecycle means to me. As a single parent with 4 kids, I rely on being able to pick up clothes for them here, it takes away some of the stress about money’
‘The money i save by only paying £4 for bags of food and being able to pick up clothes for growing kids means i have more money to pay for electricity and the odd treats now and again’
Being able to continue the Food Hub & Freecycle, and the addition of the Community Toolbox, will ensure that local people can continue to work together to thrive and develop their community.
Most voted