Amanda Eleftheriades

Dec 1, 2023 | scottishbeacon.com | Amanda Eleftheriades |Phyllis Stephen |Fiona Grahame

From hot meals to energy vouchers, Christmas gifts to school uniforms, baby clothes and household goods, community groups across West Dunbartonshire are digging deep to support local people struggling with the cost of living this year. West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare, the area’s first emergency food aid charity, was established in 2013. There are now three charities providing this as their main service in West Dunbartonshire.

Dec 1, 2023 | scottishbeacon.com | Fiona Grahame |Hans J Marter |Amanda Eleftheriades

The price of food in October 2023 was around 30 percent higher than it was in October 2021. Every shopper has felt the pinch and, for many, stark choices have to be made between heating and eating. In Orkney, the foodbank and free food fridges have become essential places providing basic foodstuffs. Charity shops are able to supply good clothes and household items for those on a low budget. One of the products which has spiralled in price is pet food. Pets bring great comfort to people.

Dec 1, 2023 | scottishbeacon.com | Phyllis Stephen |Laura Ndanuko |Amanda Eleftheriades

Food is at the centre of everything for most Ukrainians. Many of them have somewhere to grow food at home where “even a window box is used for growing vegetables and not flowers”. Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk Chairman of the Association of Ukrainians Great Britain in Edinburgh (AUGB Edinburgh) working from the Ukrainian Club on Royal Terrace has used this focus on food in many different ways in the last eighteen months.