Edinburgh Food Social: Building local economies and communities with the Cycle Access Fund
Edinburgh Food Social (EFS) is a social enterprise committed to food justice, working to educate and empower communities and young people to engage with local, seasonal food.
By promoting the use of fresh, seasonal produce, EFS seeks to increase access to nutritious meals while highlighting the positive effects of good food on physical and mental health.
Operating primarily in Craigmillar and the surrounding areas, EFS’s projects aim to boost confidence in the kitchen and inspire career opportunities in hospitality.
Their work includes food education, interactive workshops, and community meals. Supported by their wedding and event catering services, EFS provides the resources and skills to help local residents provide for their families while fostering a deeper connection with food.
Overcoming funding challenges for essential equipment
EFS had been leasing a cargo trike from XYZ Bikes to carry out local deliveries within a four-mile radius of their Craigmillar base.
The trike significantly reduced the use of private cars and taxis for deliveries, cutting costs and emissions. However, as the lease period came to an end, EFS faced the challenge of losing this essential tool due to limited funds to purchase their own.
A tailored solution for local needs
Discovering the Cycle Access Fund at the right time allowed EFS to purchase a fully customised cargo trike tailored to their needs.
The new trike was designed to fit the trays used for catering and included additional workspace to enable food preparation at community events.
XYZ Bikes provided not only the trike but also maintenance training and road safety support to ensure the small EFS team felt confident using it.
How the cargo trike is making a difference
With the new cargo trike, EFS has transformed their operations and extended their reach. The trike is now an integral part of their daily activities, used several times a day, six days a week. Key benefits include:
- Cookery workshops: Transporting ingredients and materials for six cookery workshops each week, helping schools and community organisations educate participants about food preparation and nutrition.
- Ready meal deliveries: Delivering up to 70 healthy, ready-to-eat meals at a time to local pantries and foodbanks four times a week, ensuring families have access to nutritious meals they can reheat at home.
- Community events: Supporting events like the recent bonfire night BBQ, where EFS used the trike to transport food and equipment to a local park. The event successfully diverted young people from antisocial behaviour, providing a safe and enjoyable experience for over 60 families.
Helena Vondura from EFS highlighted the trike’s impact:
The trike certainly turns heads and it creates a lot of comments and interest, making our project much more visible. It is a workhorse, and we are still finding new uses for it. It’s modular, so we can adapt it to suit our needs, and it allows us to reduce our emissions and reliance on staff cars for local deliveries
With support from the Cycle Access Fund, Edinburgh Food Social has been able to reduce emissions, expand their reach, and enhance their community engagement.
The customised cargo trike has not only improved the logistics of their food justice work but also increased their visibility and strengthened their connection with the Craigmillar community.
By investing in cycling solutions, EFS continues to empower individuals and create lasting opportunities in the areas they serve.
