The Community Renewal Trust in Edinburgh is part of the R2 network of organisations that collaborate to achieve better outcomes in local communities, such as working towards a more sustainable local food environment in north Edinburgh, an area of multiple deprivation.

Through this funded project, the group plans to explore the feasibility of establishing a food buying group for local organisations that would achieve economies of scale, improve the quality and quantity of food available in the area, reduce food waste and reduce the time, energy, and food miles that local organisations are spending in procuring food to support residents to overcome food insecurity.

R2 co-ordinator Anita Aggarwal said, “We are delighted to receive this award. Local people and organisations have been at the forefront of finding dignified solutions to food insecurity in the area. This funding will help us work towards our vision of sustainable food being affordable and available in the area. As a network of organisations, we know we can achieve more if we work together, but finding time to collaborate can be hard, so this helping hand will go a long way and have a wide impact in the long term.”