Support for Carers “Everything was so fresh and all the meals were delicious, I really couldn’t have asked for anything more” Mrs T Edinburgh Community Food supports low income and vulnerable people across the city to source and consume healthy, affordable food. We work with up to 20,000 people each year, many of whom are carers for someone with a disability or additional support need. VOCAL kindly provided Edinburgh Community Food with funds to enable us to reach out to carers we engage with, enabling us to offer them additional support, food, nourishing recipes and resources. We wish to highlight and focus on the health and wellbeing of people providing and receiving care, doing so by using the power of food to reach them. We identified 153 carers from across all localities, via our networks, our community development work and our diverse community projects. We then surrounded them with everything they need around food to be healthy and well. ECF offered carers a menu of choice for health and wellbeing: one-to-one support, programmes, training, events. Carers were also supplied with financial support for cooking fuel costs, any equipment required to prepare healthy and nourishing food & kitchen starter packs for those newly homed. Recipients received weekly home delivered & themed food boxes including fresh produce, long life items, Take & Make DIY Meal Kits, health promotion information, energy efficient cooking advice and support. Carers were also signposted to our health information sessions, REHIS training courses (food hygiene, nutrition, malnutrition, allergy awareness), food social events and VOCAL (for further support). This funding round is currently complete. To find out more information, please contact Jess Pearson at [email protected] or telephone 0131 467 7326. Vocal Carer Support - One pager “The fresh food boxes were a major help in terms of food supply for the whole family. They have definitely supported me in my role as a carer for my autistic daughter.” Mrs F” One of our Vocal Carer recipients made this warming carrot & ginger hummus dip with the ingredients from their box. They mentioned that this was followed by lentil soup! We love to see what people are making with the ingredients from our Edinburgh Community Food boxes.