On 14 January, Aberdeen community food initiative Cfine made its first annual donation to VSA, the UK’s largest social care charity which supports more than 2,500 people each year in the city and shire.
This comes as Cfine agreed to donate 1% of VSA’s total spend each year they work together.
Social enterprise Cfine donated £400 to VSA’s Linn Moor Residential School, its longest standing customer, to cover the first few months of a cultural eating project taking place at the school during 2013.
This donation is backdated for the period 2011-2012, so the charity is set to benefit from a similar amount in April 2013.
Linn Moor general manager Shona Duff said:
“The staff team came up with the project to help the children learn about different cultures, taste new foods and enjoy socialising together. The taste sensation sessions will be a huge benefit to the 21 youngsters who are aged between five and 18, all with additional support needs and many with autistic spectrum disorder.
“We’re so grateful that Cfine are kicking the year off for us. But we’re eager to hear from others who can help us on our journey. We’d love some local people or organisations to take Cfine’s lead by helping to fund the food and joining us on the night.
“We actually started our international journey in November with an alternative St Andrew’s Day celebration. The children had a curry night in honour of Scotland’s second favourite meal. Cfine’s support means we can go ahead with January’s Burns Night and Chinese New Year in February and, hopefully with the help of others, the children will continue to explore world foods, cultures, dress and flags throughout 2013.”
It’s not the first time the not-for-profit organisations have joined forces. Cfine have conducted talks and food tastings for VSA staff and service users, as well as providing raffle prizes for VSA events. All Cfine profits are invested in health and community development work in disadvantaged communities.
For further information about VSA and its work in the local community, visit www.vsa.org.uk
More about Cfine
Cfine is a social enterprise which has been selling fruit, vegetables and other produce to oil companies, restaurants and sandwich bars across the city since 1997. It also creates employment for adults with learning difficulties.
More about Linn Moor School
VSA’s Linn Moor School provides high standards of care and education for children and young people with complex needs. It is committed to nurturing the unique abilities, strengths and talents of children and young people, aged five to 18, who have additional support needs, and is committed to engaging with the community and developing social skills to ensure that inclusive opportunities are not limited.