Fas Fallain began as a virtual Healthy Living Centre providing outreach services and advice on healthy eating, encouraging grow-your-own and consumption of fruit/vegetables, but has evolved over the years to become a project focusing on all aspects of inequality.
The original three year project offered training in horticulture, marketing and cooking skills, various healthy eating activities and tailored education. Training opportunities were often held in the form of social events, which combined an enjoyable social experience with learning. It also sought to work and support groups in more depth to look at issues of interest to them e.g. healthy eating on a low income.
Mary MacLean, Fas Fallain Manager, said “Our core work still remains at encouraging people to grow their own food and adopting a healthier diet, whilst also using food to address issues such as community engagement, community development and poverty. We also provide support to local initiatives through small grants and advice, and encourage communities to take the lead when developing their own local projects.
As one example, Mary explained “From the very beginning, Fas Fallain has supported the work of the Lewis and Harris Horticultural Producers (LHHP), providing funding towards its development. In fact, our most recent funding to LHHP was towards the use of the Lews Castle allotments site located on the Lews College grounds. This was to assist the provision of training and support for those in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse, where the use of horticulture can be used as a form of therapy and rehabilitation.”
Another recipient of financial assistance was ‘Cothrom’, the community and development organisation on South Uist, which was awarded funding towards the purchase of plants, tools and seeds for use in their inter-generational growing project. The initiative, between the Falachan Cothrom Community Garden and the Kedar House Polytunnel at Ormiclate, encourages all ages to work together and share skills.
Carrying on with the intergenerational theme, The Children’s Centre on Barra was also awarded funding to develop a community gardening project within its nursery. Their aim is to construct raised beds for use by both the residents of Cobhair Bharraigh (a local day centre for people with dementia) and the Children’s Centre, enabling the residents to increase their involvement within the local community. It is planned that the vegetables grown will be cooked by the children, with the two groups coming together to enjoy the food grown together.
Further funding was provided to Alzheimer’s Scotland (Lewis & Harris Services) towards the development of a therapeutic sensory garden, which will be based in the historic Lews Castle walled garden. Currently this project is in the planning phase and once completed, will be made available to dementia patients and their families who will reap a variety of benefits from assisting in working the garden.
Finally, a contribution was also made to Western Isles Community Care Forum (WICCF) towards printing costs for a recipe book aimed at local informal carers. The book is aimed at encouraging carers to adopt a balanced diet for both themselves, and those being cared for; essential for providing the body with the nutrients it needs. It consists of quick and easy-to-make recipes, including healthy information and a chapter on special diets (e.g. gluten free, fat-free, etc), which staff from the NHS Western Isles Dietetics Department have provided advice. Sales of the book will be used to further support the core work of WICCF.
For further information on the work of Fas Fallain, please contact Mary MacLean, Fas Fallain Manager, tel. 01851 762017 or email marymaclean1@nhs.net