An appeal has gone out for volunteers to help restore a West Lothian food pantry service
The Livingston neighbourhood of Ladywell lost its community project, which provided low-cost food to locals early on last year.
Councillor Maria MacAulay praised the past work of the Baptist Church and said others needed: “to carry the torch.”
In a report to Livingston South Local Area Committee Regeneration Officer Scott McKillop said: “With the cessation of the community fridge project in early 2024, Ladywell does not currently have a free/ discounted food provision project.
“In terms of developing a new project within Ladywell to supersede this, partners have been consulted but unfortunately at the moment there is no local community capacity, at present at least, to develop this.
“In the absence of this, partners have helped to promote uptake of similar services in adjacent communities.
“This includes the Vennie’s Food Outlet at Mosswood Community Centre in Knightsridge and West Lothian Youth Action Project’s food project in Craigshill. Both report uptake from Ladywell residents.”
Councillor MacAulay, a councillor for the Livingston South ward, which includes Ladywell, said: “Ladywell has always thrived when neighbours look out for each other. I want to thank the Knightsbridge food outlet and the Craigshill team for the support they’ve shown our community.
“The Baptist church’s contribution over many years was greatly valued, and now we need other organisations to carry that torch in Ladywell so that no neighbour is left without.”
In a report to the neighbouring Livingston North local Area Committee the regeneration officer said: “On average, the Vennie had 135 uses of their Food Outlet [April to June].
“The Vennie continues to deliver regeneration work in Knightsridge and have further developed their main activities.
“In 2024/25, they received £31,405 of funding from the council’s Third Sector Community Support Fund (TSCSF) which was used towards their extensive work with children and young people through their clubs, many of them sports-focused, community garden and Food Outlet.”
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
