A Highlands charity that helps young people who are at risk of homelessness or unemployment has received new support from Scotmid Co-operative.
The Calman Trust has been awarded £400 as part of Scotmid’s community grant scheme, which will be used to run cooking classes and buy ingredients.
The classes will teach young people essential cooking and kitchen skills, as well as how to prepare healthy meals on a budget. Scotmid’s donation will also be used by the students to shop for ingredients so they can try out their new cooking skills at home.
Isobel Grigor from the Calman Trust said: “The Calman Trust provides training and support to people aged 14-25 who experience difficulties in the transition of leaving home or school, and are, or at risk of becoming, homeless and unemployed. The cooking classes are a really helpful way for us to engage and empower young people, many of whom have left school without a plan for the future and have not developed the skills to manage independent living. We teach them how to buy essential ingredients, how to build up a food cupboard and how to cook good food on a budget. We show them that cooking with fresh ingredients is actually cheaper than buying processed food and ready-meals, and better for them, too. In the classes the young people learn how to manage a budget and how to work together.”
She added: “I think it’s really positive for the young people we work with to see an organisation like Scotmid commit to enabling them to have a good future and to be valued by their local community. We are very grateful for Scotmid’s grant.”
Sheena Bennett from Scotmid’s Hilton store said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Calman Trust with this community grant. The Calman Trust provides vital support and training to hundreds of teenagers and young adults and we’re sure that these cooking classes will make a big difference to people in need from our local area.”
The Calman Trust currently works with more than 400 young people in the Highlands, where food and energy costs are considerably higher than the rest of the UK.
Scotmid donates around a quarter of a million pounds to local causes through its community grant scheme each year. Applications are encouraged for projects that support children and education, active lifestyles, the environment, health promotion, the elderly, homelessness, Fairtrade, arts and culture, and charity.
Community groups and projects can apply by completing a community grant form from their local Scotmid store or online at www.scotmid.coop. Community groups and projects must meet certain criteria to be considered for funding. The applications are then considered by their Regional Committee before being awarded.