CFINE hosts the FareShare Regional Centre for Grampian, Highlands and Islands. FareShare is a UK national charity that ensures good food from the food industry does not go to waste and instead is redistributed to FareShare Regional Centres, that then deliver it to their Community Food Members (CFMs). CFMs consist of charities and community groups including pantries, larders, food banks and community centres. They in turn use that food to meet a range of immediate needs, including food insecurity, as well as providing opportunities for improving health, wellbeing, employability skills, and social connections.
The operation that happens at CFINE although far North, is in fact not the most northern part of our operation, as we also have a team up in Alness within the Highlands.
To find out a bit more about the work being done in Alness, this week we caught up with Development Worker Mike Sutherland to find out more about CFINE's Alness operation in the Highlands and Islands!
Who makes up The Highlands and Islands team?
Three volunteers support Mike Sutherland, Jason Beeston, Kenny Mackenzie, and Ali Goskirk to deliver the FareShare service to the region. This is supported by the Aberdeen CFINE FareShare team and management.
Where are we?
The team is based in Alness and co-ordinate deliveries of surplus food and period products to sixty-eight Community Food Members (CFMs) across the region.
What is our biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is the geography of the Highlands and Islands. So, logistics and planning are the name of the game to ensure that our CFMs receive their deliveries of surplus food.
How does it all work?
All planning and logistics are co-ordinated by the Alness team.
Aberdeen supports us by making up pallets which are delivered between Inverness and Brora by the CFINE van and the Aberdeen team.
The Aberdeen team make up pallets for Shetland, Orkney, Lochaber, Caithness and Sutherland and deliver to haulage firm ARR Craib in Aberdeen. A big thank you to ARR Craib for supporting our operation and making it cost effective! The pallets are delivered to Inverness and we co-ordinate local haulage companies to deliver to our members. Big shout out for Williamson Foodservice who provide this service free of charge.
The Highland and Islands team operate the Alness warehouse where they develop the operation, work closely with local charities, bring in new CFMs, and co-ordinate local deliveries from the warehouse. We also support groups by providing period products on behalf of The Highland Council and work in partnership with IFAN and others on promoting 'cash first' interventions and distributing Worrying About Money leaflets.
How has it been going for the last 12 months?
The operation has delivered 208 tonnes of surplus food to the region, this equates to 495k meals supporting sixty-eight CFMs and 7820 beneficiaries.
Where are we heading?
We are looking for larger premises in Easter Ross as the current warehouse in Alness only has capacity for a small number of pallets. A larger premises will increase our ability to support our CFMs.
We have a small dedicated and enthusiastic team that are collaborating with the community to support the most vulnerable. We are always looking to improve the service and support our members.
If you would like to find our more about the work being done in Alness, please contact us on 01224 596156 or email info@cfine.org thank you.
