The Larder and West Lothian College joined forces to provide the Christmas dinners to vulnerable groups over festive period

Hospitality students at the college made mince pies and The Larder served up the main meals

The Larder and partners joined forces to produce over 1500 Christmas dinners to those in need over the festive season.

These fresh tasty meals produced within The Larder’s Catalyst Kitchen went directly to 264 beneficiaries dealing with personal issues such as vulnerability, unemployment, homelessness and isolation.

West Lothian College hospitality students produced 1000 mince pies to be served alongside The Larder’s meals which the Catalyst Kitchen Project Co-ordinator Debbie Joy noted were “well received”.

Parsley Box who specialise in ambient meals provided 200 family packs to assist with those in temporary tenancies.

Working in conjunction with the West Lothian Councils Homelessness Prevention Service, we were able to cater to an additional 64 in need living in various hotels in the area. Similarly, a further 55 meals were provided to Change Grow Live, a recovery and addiction service.

A spokesperson said:

“The Larder are now exploring other ways of supporting food with dignity during the pandemic with increased restrictions in Tier 4, including how they best use their unused café spaces to feed people during lockdown and beyond.

“These partnerships are a prime example of private, public and third sector joining together to make change.