Highlands & Islands MSP Emma Roddick has commended the work of a group providing emergency food parcels across Badenoch and Strathspey, saying that the service is essential amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis.

An independently run service, Badenoch and Strathspey Food Hub provides relief to anyone struggling to afford food through emergency food parcels and weekly ‘Foodshare Tables’ at St Andrew’s Church in Aviemore.

Following a meeting with team members of the hub, Ms Roddick said she was heartened by the team’s dedication to helping those in need and said the service was undoubtedly a lifeline to many struggling amidst the cost-of-living crisis.

She said:

“I was glad to be able to finally meet the team behind Badenoch and Strathspey Food Hub and spend some time discussing the work they do.

“It was so interesting to hear how, now that the service is working independently, it can allow peer and self-referrals which the team believes is encouraging a lot more folk to seek help and is removing some of the stigma around food poverty and foodbanks.

“Whilst food banks should not be necessary, we know that years of Tory austerity and now the cost-of-living crisis means that people are going hungry, and initiatives like the Food Hub here are a lifeline for so many.

“The Scottish Government has taken positive action to tackle poverty, like introducing the Scottish Child Payment and establishing a new Social Security system based on fairness and compassion, but the reality is that in Scotland we have one hand tied behind our back by the UK Government.

“That is why the work of the Badenoch and Strathspey Food Hub is so vital in providing for those who need that extra bit of support.”

“I’d like to thank John, Sylvie, Beth, and Gavin for welcoming me in and telling me about what they do here in their community, and I look forward to catching up with them again in the future.”