Since April 2020, Catalyst Kitchen’s ready meal delivery service has been a lifeline for individuals and families across West Lothian — a warm meal delivered with dignity, compassion, and care. What began as an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic evolved into a source of vital, life-changing, and sometimes life-saving support for people facing food insecurity, poor health, and social isolation.
Today, we share the news that this chapter of Catalyst Kitchen’s journey is coming to a close. At the end of June 2025, we will be bringing our ready meal service to an end, as we begin to reshape and renew our approach to tackling food poverty.
Over the past five years, this programme has delivered more than 250,000 freshly prepared, nutritious meals to over 1,000 people across West Lothian. Behind every number is a story — of someone who felt seen, supported, and nourished at a time when they needed it most. Whether it was an elderly person unable to leave the house, a single parent struggling to make ends meet, or someone facing a health crisis, these meals brought not just sustenance, but connection, dignity, and hope.
This impact would not have been possible without the dedication of our incredible team, our selfless volunteers (many of whom have been delivering meals since day one), our referral partners, and the funders who believed in a community-led response to hunger. To each of you: thank you.
While this specific service is ending, our work is far from over.
At The Larder, we are committed to continuing to support people experiencing food insecurity in ways that preserve dignity, build community, and promote long-term wellbeing. Our community shops and community meals at Strathbrock and Blackburn cafés will continue to offer welcoming spaces where people can access low-cost food and affordable hot meals. These spaces not only provide support, but foster connection and choice — values that lie at the heart of everything we do.
We are also in the early stages of developing a new model of dignified food support, shaped by what we’ve learned over the past five years. We’ll be sharing more about this soon and welcome ideas, feedback, and collaboration as we look to the future.
To the many people we’ve supported through Catalyst Kitchen: thank you for trusting us. It has been our honour to walk alongside you, and we remain here — in your community, by your side — with new ways to support you.
Together, let’s continue to build a West Lothian where everyone has access to good food, without shame or judgement.
With gratitude,
The Larder Team
