Community project keeps pot boiling with new family favourites cookbook

Idea for ‘isolation recipes’ part of plan to help locals during crisis

An Arbroath project which has continued its vital community work throughout the pandemic has been given a MasterChef thumbs up for its latest project.

The Local People Project is funded by People’s Health Trust using money raised by Health Lottery Scotland and delivered by the Royal Voluntary Service, whose steering group of local residents has developed a programme of activities across the community.

In common with other groups, the project faced a number of challenges during lockdown, but has worked around those to keep its activities going.

Its latest initiative has also served up a local cookbook which emerged from an effort to cut down on food waste during the coronavirus crisis.

RVS community engagement worker Grant Hutchison said: “Early on in the pandemic, news and social media was rife with conversations about stockpiling, panic buying and waste. Angus Council reported the most food waste ever collected as a result.

“The steering group wanted to tackle this, and the idea for an isolation cookbook was born.”

He added: “Before we knew it, we had 100 recipes from 56 participants and had published 250 copies.”

MasterChef: The Professionals winner Jamie Scott, who hails from Arbroath, has penned the foreword to the book.

Grant added: “We’re delighted that people are not only inspired by the variety of recipes shared, but that they’re having conversations with their older relatives and neighbours about the origins of them.

“Many are discovering traditional methods of preparing meals that their parents and grandparents once enjoyed.”

A Singing Buddies group which has been running for around 18 months has continued after members were able to tune in to virtual sessions on digital tablets bought to keep people in touch with each other.

Social dining groups which would normally bring together around 40 older people at the Vin-Tealicious tea room in Arbroath’s West Port also moved online, with the restaurant and local project delivering food to the doorstep to allow people to enjoy a virtual meal with friends.

“We’re delighted with what we’ve been able to do before and during the pandemic,” said steering group member Marie Welsh.

“The group works hard to support our community and challenge health inequalities; it’s so important that the community remains welcoming to older people, whatever their circumstances.

“It’s vital to ensure that those who still need to stay at home and restrict their social interactions are still included, and we are also looking at pen pal projects.

“We are always open to ideas, so invite the community to contact us,” said Marie.

Picture: Gareth Jennings. Steering group member Marie Welsh.