Bridgend Farmhouse – inspiring growth through crisis and beyond
It has been an honour for the staff, trustees, and volunteers at Bridgend Farmhouse to serve the local community during the COVID-19 crisis.
Bridgend Farmhouse was here for the community before the current crisis, during the crisis, and we are going nowhere. We are here for the community beyond this crisis.
Our COVID-19 response has focused on three areas: an emergency food response, online activities for the local community and our Big Bike Revival Scheme.
Over the past three months, we have loaned out 14 bikes to key workers, repaired countless people’s bikes, distributed 65,500 meals, contacted dozens of our volunteers past and present, and held weekly online arts and crafts and singing workshops.
Watch out for new activities around local history, our local environment, creative activities for the isolated (and bored!) and much more.
Our efforts continue, and we are now working hard to plan our transition out of the lockdown restrictions in ways which respond to our new reality.
Bridgend Farmhouse was here for the community before the current crisis, during the crisis, and we are going nowhere. We are here for the community beyond this crisis.
Our COVID-19 response has focused on three areas: an emergency food response, online activities for the local community and our Big Bike Revival Scheme.
Over the past three months, we have loaned out 14 bikes to key workers, repaired countless people’s bikes, distributed 65,500 meals, contacted dozens of our volunteers past and present, and held weekly online arts and crafts and singing workshops.
Watch out for new activities around local history, our local environment, creative activities for the isolated (and bored!) and much more.
Our efforts continue, and we are now working hard to plan our transition out of the lockdown restrictions in ways which respond to our new reality.
Our food resilience response project:
In collaboration with local partners, we have developed a food resilience response to the COVID-19 crisis. We have recruited a kitchen team of volunteer chefs and a packaging and distribution team of catering managers, many of whom have recently lost their jobs, and all are devoted to helping local vulnerable people.
They work in collaboration with an off-site team of volunteer logistics coordinators and a trained volunteer delivery team (complete with personal protection equipment such as disposable masks and gloves).
In collaboration with local partners, we have developed a food resilience response to the COVID-19 crisis. We have recruited a kitchen team of volunteer chefs and a packaging and distribution team of catering managers, many of whom have recently lost their jobs, and all are devoted to helping local vulnerable people.
They work in collaboration with an off-site team of volunteer logistics coordinators and a trained volunteer delivery team (complete with personal protection equipment such as disposable masks and gloves).
Since the beginning of April we have delivered 65,500 meals to people in EH16 and EH17 in need. Each delivery contains a breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner, in recyclable packaging, that recipients can reheat with just a kettle and either a microwave or a hob. These are distributed principally through intermediaries such as local community, religious, educational and health-sector organisations and other pivotal members of our local community.
We are now no longer taking referrals for food deliveries. We are exploring ways to continue to serve a small number of people in need.
As the economy re-opens and fewer people are self-isolating, we will pivot back to our Community food initiatives, such as seed delivery, online tutorials and other ways to make food more healthy, sociable and fun. More information coming soon via our website and social media.
We are now no longer taking referrals for food deliveries. We are exploring ways to continue to serve a small number of people in need.
As the economy re-opens and fewer people are self-isolating, we will pivot back to our Community food initiatives, such as seed delivery, online tutorials and other ways to make food more healthy, sociable and fun. More information coming soon via our website and social media.
|
How you can help: Meals cost £2 to produce. For £10, we can feed a vulnerable person who is self-isolating or someone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms for five days, or a family of five for a whole day. If you are in a position to support and would like to contribute to this effort, you can make a donation: Account Name: Bridgend Farmhouse; Account No.: 65855258 Sort Code: 08-92-99 [Co-operative Bank] Reference: FFF (ie. Food For a Friend, or “general donation” if you don’t wish to specify) If you have contacts to food producers, retailers, hotels or restaurants in your network who could donate produce they are no longer able to use, please put us in touch. We are not currently seeking volunteers for food delivery, but you may add your name to the waiting list in case this changes by calling the above number or mailing bridgendfarmhouse.food@gmail.com. In addition to the funding and support we are receiving for this work via the organisations listed below we have also had a huge amount of private donations. Thank you all! |
Support for the community emerging from lockdown In addition to the food resilience response, we have an open Facebook group as a platform for support and mutual aid in South Edinburgh South Edinburgh Mutual Support We have also developed ways to deliver on our objectives around community engagement and support of vulnerable people through novel and innovative methods such as online services. For a full list of current and planned activities, including creative, musical, active, cookery, and environmental activities, please click here Bridgend Farmhouse Big Bike Revival Scheme for Key Workers Do you want to find a free, easy and healthy way to travel whilst keeping to government social distancing guidelines? We are able to offer bike service and maintenance by appointment only, details here 
|
|
|
We also want to thank the following who all gave one-off donations of food at the start of this project: Novotel Edinburgh Park, Heather Hills Farm, Hawksmoor, Michael’s Grill and Seafood Place, Braehead Foods, Coro The Chocolate Cafe, Tron Kirk and Penicuik Storehouse.
If you would like further information on any of these projects and plans, please keep an eye on our social media or contact: community@bridgendfarmhouse.org.uk We wish you and your families and loved ones the best of health.
