The Gate Foodbank in Alloa has received a helping hand in the form of the Scottish Government’s Emergency Food Fund (EFF).

Thanks to the EFF, funding designed to tackle fuel poverty has been allocated to 26 projects across the country, with the local foodbank set to net a share of £9590.

The money will be used to help The Gate Charity – which was set up in 2011 and runs the foodbank – deal with increasing demand, streamline its process and pay for running costs.

Operating on a referral only basis, within the current process, food packs are dropped off to the referring organisations to be collected by those in need. However, due to increasing numbers and a response time of 24 hours there is a need to make delivery more manageable. Using the EFF funding, the is to hope make some adaptations to the building to introduce a voucher system which will allow people to pick up their food bags from The Gate, following a referral, and to buy a laptop.

Trustee and chair of the charity, Evelyn Paterson, said, “Although our present system has worked well up until now, the increasing demand means that the time involved in delivery for our volunteers and the cost and availability of transport is becoming restrictive on the service. The foodbank needs to develop its delivery service. In some cases, where it’s more effective to do so, people will be able to collect their food parcels from here, provided they have a referral voucher. A dedicated Foodbank computer will enable a more efficient stock control system. If we were operating through a voucher system we would need to be able to contact our referrers on a daily basis.” In the four years since the foodbank was officially set up, the number of packs handed out has increased eightfold. In 2011, 88 parcels were given out compared to over 700 in 2013, and that figure is already up by 30 per cent this year.

During the foodbank’s second quarter this year (April-June) 205 packs were delivered, feeding 384 people and supplying 7741 meals.

Going forward the charity is working for positive change, Evelyn said, “It’s absolutely imperative for us as a charity with our remit, to make sure that there is somebody in the background supporting these people and alleviating problems.” The Gate Charity has officially launched its community cafe.

The Gate Centre Community Cafe is now open to the public and you can enjoy a tasty treat, affordable lunch or warming hot drink.

Open on Fridays between noon and 2pm, with the hope to include additional days further down the line, you will find the eatery at 2 Ludgate, Alloa.

Evelyn Paterson, Trustee of The Gate Charity, said, “We have built a community asset for the community of Clackmannanshire. Our hope is that through the cafe we will be able to support more people through the profits that are reinvested back into the projects.” Volunteers are being sought to help out with the running of the cafe on Fridays. Full training will be provided and for more information please contact The Gate centre manager Marie Brownhill on 01259 218766.