EATS Rosyth was founded in 2016, with the aim of supporting the local community by improving food education and reducing waste. Consisting of the Community Garden and Centenary Orchard, EATS is a project encouraging people to get involved in making the town (and world!) a better place. The new EATS Rosyth Community Hub opened at the end of last month with the aim of providing healthy community meals. We were delighted to be able to support EATS Rosyth through a small donation of products.
Tell us about how it all started
EATS Rosyth was founded in 2016. The project was initiated by Rosyth Community Council, although delivered through Rosyth Community Projects Ltd. Its purpose is to demonstrate how the transformation of previously unused community spaces can create productive growth areas which benefit the whole community whilst inspiring others. Since being founded, the project has grown from the Community Garden, to taking over another piece of land to make the Centenary Orchard Community, and finally the Hub was opened - this allows the redistribution of food surplus and reduces waste.
We are currently working on our biggest project to date, The Living Room Café and Social Hub. This project includes a cafe, which will run as a commercial venue aiming to reduce social isolation and food poverty, while also helping the more marginalised members of our community gain access to a hot meals with dignity. It will also be a place of learning, with a training kitchen giving people of all ages the opportunity to gain experience of working in a professional setting. We will also create areas where people can access advice through partnerships such as The Well and Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
More than anything we want to break the barriers and to be known not only as a ‘community café’, where anyone can come for an affordable cup of coffee and delicious cake, but as the centre of our community where everyone is welcome.
As a project centred on the importance of good food and nutrition, EATS aims to develop a sense of ownership within the community. Consultation is central to our approach; by encouraging people to get involved in decision-making we hope to help the town (and world!) become a better place.
How many people are involved in your organisation?
EATS is a community-centred project with the majority of work being volunteer lead. From our board of directors to our growers, we have an ever expanding group of very talented individuals who provide knowledge, experience and skills in everything that they do. Currently we have around a hundred volunteers and four paid members of staff, although this is set to increase as we move and grow.
Tell us a little about the people you cook/provide food for
The term ‘Community Café’ comes with a layer of stigma which suggest the clientele may come from a certain income level. By opening up our new café we hope to breakdown the barriers, providing something for everyone. We believe that everybody deserves the dignity of being able to meet a friend for lunch and not worry they will break the budget. At the same time we plan that our food will be of such a high standard that everyone will want to come.
You are opening a new community Hub, how did this happen?
The purchase and renovation of the new Hub has been a slow process, with the former bank building originally purchased with money from the Scottish Land Fund. After public consultation was carried out to measure community support, our application to the fund was successful.
However, we have needed a continual stream of funding to renovate and remodel the building. We could not have got as far as we have without the hard work of the very talented and committed Men’s Shed, who have helped with everything from painting walls to fitting kitchens. With our exceptional volunteers giving their knowledge on practical functions like health and safety measures, and kitchen layout. It is through the sheer determination of everyone on the project that we are now in the final stages of getting this new venue ready to open.
What steps need to be taken to improve people’s health?
I feel strongly that all health starts with food and that physical, mental and social well-being begins with what is on our plate. Most people will have certain memories around food, whether that’s the cake Granny used to make when we were wee or a meal with friends - food brings us closer together.
Many are aware that the systems which are supposed to provide for our basic human needs are in dire straits. We have seen these repeatedly under stress over the last few years, illustrating how all it takes is one event to cause the supermarkets to be empty of practically everything. By taking back our own food sovereignty, shortening the food chains that provide for us and helping our community gain skills to make informed choices, we can help strengthen our area and hopefully improve health.
What is the future for EATS Rosyth?
EATS Rosyth is an ever evolving project, so we will continue to provide what is most needed in our community. However, as one of our main objectives is to tackle food poverty, our new Hub will allow us to do this - not only by providing hot meals, but by providing education around cooking and nutrition as well as giving experience to those wanting to learn how to work in a professional catering environment. As we settle into our new Hub we hope to build relationships and partnerships with other community, health and council projects, as well as providing a space for different groups to meet, talk or share skills.
This new premises also give us the opportunity to provide hot-desking and office space for those who need it. Most of all, we want to rebuild our community, providing support and a venue to meet in a town which struggles with both social isolation and is classed as a food desert; our Hub will be the centre of our organisation, a place for intergenerational co-operation and a place to help the town flourish!
Find out more about EATS Rosyth at www.eatsrosyth.org.uk
