June ‘26

June has been another busy and rewarding month for Inverclyde Community Food Network, with continued progress across our community growing, food sharing and healthy eating projects. From harvesting the first crops of the season at Parklea to expanding our Food Share volunteer team, delivering community events and celebrating the achievements of valued partners, June has once again demonstrated the power of food to bring people together and strengthen communities.

Growing and Harvesting at Parklea

The Parklea allotment continued to flourish throughout June, with six growing sessions taking place with the help of our dedicated volunteers.

This month saw the harvest of a wide range of fresh produce including radishes, lettuce, kale, turnips, herbs and the first of this year's Casablanca potatoes. The Little Gem lettuce proved to be particularly successful, producing an excellent crop that was shared with the Parklea Café alongside several varieties of loose-leaf lettuce.

The allotment has also attracted plenty of interest from visitors to the Parklea Café and plant sales. Many people took the opportunity to walk through the growing area, learn more about community gardening and chat about the benefits that growing projects can bring to both individuals and communities. These conversations are an important part of our work, helping to inspire others and strengthen local connections.

One particularly encouraging meeting was with visitors from a community garden in Paisley. Although outside Inverclyde, opportunities to connect with other growing projects are always valuable, allowing us to share ideas, learn from one another and explore potential future visits and partnerships.

Food Share Continues to Expand

The Food Share project remains a vital part of our work, redistributing surplus food while reducing waste and supporting local organisations and families.

During June, volunteers collected and delivered an impressive 148 crates of food, equating to approximately 2,220 kilograms of surplus food redistributed across Inverclyde. In addition, around 26 bin liners of surplus bread rolls were rescued and shared, helping ensure that good food was put to use rather than going to waste.

Our volunteers have been absolute stars. Thanks to their dedication and commitment, the project now has a team of 15 active volunteers. We coordinate deliveries through a WhatsApp group, ensuring food reaches those who can benefit from it quickly and efficiently.

To help support volunteers with fuel and travel costs, a £5 Aldi voucher is provided for each delivery completed. We were therefore delighted to receive £2,000 from Inverclyde Council towards the continuation of this scheme, helping us sustain and grow the project in the months ahead.

We are always keen to welcome new volunteers and would encourage anyone interested in getting involved to get in touch.

Supporting Health Through Food Education

June also saw the completion of two important video projects designed to support health improvement and community learning.

The first was a promotional video highlighting the work and impact of Inverclyde Community Food Network and the projects delivered through our funding support.

The second was produced in partnership with NHS dietitians and focused on supporting carers. The video provides simple, step-by-step guidance for preparing basic breakfasts and light lunches, with practical suggestions for increasing energy and nutritional content for older adults who may be underweight or at risk of malnutrition.

For many carers working within limited time constraints, having access to simple and achievable ideas can make a significant difference. We hope this resource will help carers feel more confident in providing nourishing meals that support the health and wellbeing of those they care for.

Bringing People Together Through Movable Feast

This month's Movable Feast event took place at RIG Arts' new premises, the Pirrie Hall at the Old West Kirk on Greenock's Esplanade.

Visitors enjoyed a free, nourishing lunch featuring homemade tomato and carrot soup, leek and potato soup, homemade cheese bread, surplus bread supplied through the Food Share project, carrot cake and healthy fruit cupcakes.

Fresh produce from RIG Arts’ Drying Green community garden including lettuce, kale and herbs, was also available for people to take home.

As always, the event provided an opportunity for people to come together, share food and enjoy conversation. We had some excellent discussions about food, health, community growing and the wider work of ICFN, with several attendees expressing an interest in future cooking classes and activities.

Celebrating a Remarkable Contribution

One of the highlights of June was attending a special retirement celebration for Cath Tearne, Senior Health Improvement Practitioner with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Held in the beautiful surroundings of the Parklea Café, the cream tea gathering brought together colleagues, partners and friends from across many years of community work. The event was a fitting tribute to someone who has dedicated so much of her career to improving health and wellbeing across Inverclyde.

Cath has worked tirelessly within communities for many years, supporting healthy cooking programmes, the Thrive Under 5 project and numerous other initiatives designed to improve lives through food and health education.

Importantly for ICFN, Cath was also the driving force behind the creation of the Inverclyde Community Food Network around ten years ago. By bringing organisations together in partnership around food growing and cooking, she helped establish the foundations that led to the development of healthy cooking programmes, the appointment of dedicated staff and, ultimately, the successful transition of ICFN into a registered charity last year.

We are therefore absolutely delighted that Cath will continue to be involved with ICFN by joining our Board of Trustees. Her knowledge, experience and passion for community development will be invaluable as we continue to grow and develop our work in the years ahead.

Looking Ahead

As summer continues, there is plenty to look forward to across our growing, cooking and food sharing projects. Harvests at the Parklea allotment are increasing, community partnerships continue to strengthen and demand for Food Share remains high.

From supporting healthier eating and reducing food waste to creating opportunities for people to connect through food and growing, June has once again demonstrated the positive impact that community-led action can have across Inverclyde.

We would like to thank all of our volunteers, partners, funders and participants for their continued support. Together, we are helping to build a healthier, more connected and more resilient Inverclyde.