Arbroath churches are pulling together to launch a new initiative to ease the impact of the cost of living crisis on local families.
The Fun, Food and Friendship scheme will run at two different locations.
People will be able to come together to support each other through what those behind the idea say will inevitably be a challenging winter.
And volunteers will be serving a hot two-course meal to those coming through the door.
Running in Arbroath and Friockheim
In Arbroath, it will operate Monday to Friday from 4pm to 8pm at the Community Spirit centre, Fisheracre. It begins on Monday.
And from November 19, Friockheim Hub will host a similar venture each Saturday from 11am to 3pm.
Arbroath St Andrews Church minister, the Very Rev. Dr Martin Fair says it is “by the people, for the people”.
“First and foremost, this is about creating a space for people to gather,” he said.
“But within that, every session will feature a locally-prepared, hot two-course meal.
“There will be no entry charge and the meals will be free of charge.
“Beyond the food, there will be options to get involved in various activities.
“Or people can sit and chat or watch something on the large screen.”
Evidence of families facing challenges
The Rev. Fair was Moderator of the Church of Scotland at the height of the pandemic.
He says it’s clear more families are being caught up in the cost of living crisis.
“The working poor are really going to be caught up at the sharp end of this,” he said.
“The help of utility companies and so on doesn’t cancel out the struggles people are facing.
“And through our work we see the stress and anxiety this is causing.
“We’ve been told that when the going gets tough, the tough get going – but it’s not always about managing on our own.
“It makes sense that people come together to support one another.
“Though the phrase ‘better together’ has taken on political connotations, at its root it perfectly describes what communities should be – better together.”
Mr Fair was also part of a major Fife Presbytery event on Saturday to discuss the “evil of poverty”.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was a keynote speaker at the emergency summit.
It was originally scheduled to take place in September but was postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
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