'Five-a-day' charity wins £900k grant

Published on Friday 10 October 2008 10:25

A COMMUNITY group working to ensure local people get their recommended "five-a-day" has been awarded more than £900,000 by the National Lottery.

West Lothian Food and Health Development received 915,978 from the Big Lottery Fund, the largest single grant ever made in West Lothian.

The money will help develop its distribution hub and social enterprise centre project, which acts as a central buyer, support unit and distributor of fresh fruit and vegetables to food co-ops.

The three-year funding will enable the group to buy premises and recruit additional staff.

Allistar Strickland, operations manager for West Lothian Food and Health Development, said: "This is fantastic news. The funding will enable us to buy our own building, provide new jobs and get the five-a-day message across.

"In addition, it will allow us to create a hub which will house a number of social enterprises enabling them to share ideas, skills and resources."

Councillor Ellen Glass, the council's health and care leader, said: "We are delighted that they have received this funding. By 2011, the project will benefit 6000 individuals per week, with a particular focus on disadvantaged communities.

"This means that more people will be able to access affordable fruit and vegetables and healthy eating initiatives."