NESS BANK 

Inverness Foodstuff was set up in May 2014 by a group of interested people from local churches and community in an attempt to address the problem of homelessness, food poverty, social isolation and food waste.   The group prepared a Development Plan and Constitution which was submitted to OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) in September of that year and on 10 November we were given charitable status.

 

The project relies upon receiving surplus food which would otherwise go to waste from local retailers and major supermarkets. Harry Gow Bakeries continue to supply the project with bread twice a week and the project now has agreements for the supply of fresh produce from Tesco's; Morrison's; Marks & Spencer’s; Aldi; Lidl; Co-op; and Bookers, as well as local suppliers such as Swanson’s Fruit and Veg Suppliers. There are a team of volunteers who collect the food from these suppliers daily allowing us to maintain good levels of stock and we are also indebted to FareShare and Neighbourly, who are our intermediaries organising the logistics of the supermarket collections.

 

The project continues to run as a Drop-in Centre on a Tuesday and Thursday from 1.00pm to 3.30pm as well as a Saturday from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. (From November 2023 our opening hours will be 10am to 3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.)

 

We will serve tea, coffee and juice between 12 noon and 1pm and serve lunch and open the stall from 1pm. A three-course meal of soup, main course and pudding is provided at each weekday session, along with fresh fruit and often baking (when available) for participants to enjoy and a two- course lunch of soup and either a main or pudding on a Saturday. Participants can choose what they like to eat, and tea/coffee/diluting juice is also available throughout the sessions. All the food is cooked from fresh produce and is vegetarian.

 

At the Thursday sessions, through our partnership with the Highland Council’s Employability service, participants have the opportunity to receive one-to-one advice and assistance with digital access, job applications, preparing CV’s and applying for benefits online.

 

The following services are also offered through the development of the following partnerships:

• NHS Community Nurse with a remit for the homeless visits weekly;

• NHS Nurse Practitioner for the homeless visits regularly;

• NHS Highland Screening Service provide support, advice and encouragement to participants eligible for breast and bowel screening.

• Highland Council’s housing team provide a support worker regularly;

• Highland Council’s Welfare Team is available for advice on benefits;

• Highland Council’s Employability service provides a support worker for the Thursday sessions;

• Third Sector Employment Support Agency provides support and guidance to jobseekers;

• Women’s Aid provide a regular, discreet service to those in need;

• Oxfam provide free clothes for participants weekly;

• A volunteer hairdresser provides haircuts to participants every Tuesday;

• We continue to be a referral agency to the Foodbank who in turn refer individuals to our service;

 

To date we have 89 volunteers, 6 of whom are volunteering with us only for the COVID-19 pandemic, and all of whom are very committed to our

Project and provide great support to the homeless community.

 

The Board consists of eight Trustees and the Chair of the Trustee Board is Dr Stuart Black who is an Elder at Ness Bank Church.

 

We have many tasks carried out by our volunteers such as:

      

• Food preparation

• Café duties

• Selection and collection of food at supermarkets

• Weekly provisions check

• Weekly collection of clothes from Oxfam
   

and we would welcome anyone who would be willing to help.   For more information please contact the Operations Manager, Pam Urquhart, on

operationsmanager@invernessfoodstuff.co.uk

www.invernessfoodstuff.co.uk

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Our telephone helpline is open from 9.00am - 5.00pm from Monday to Friday and from 10.00am - 1.00pm on Saturday.

Helpline Number: 07552303056