Blether - Community Shop (Neilston)

Since we opened, we have been lucky to receive funding from various sources, including; Nicer Neilston PB, Accenture - Change X, VAER and Greater Renfrewshire and Inverclyde LAG.  This has allowed us to lease the shop space, pay for electricity and water, create three part-time jobs for people in the village and pay for Food Hygiene training for all volunteers.

In only six months we have redistributed 6.7 tonnes of food to people living in the community. On average we can have between 40-60 people a day accessing food.

Any funding we receive via Crowdfunder will go towards the lease of the shop space.  Lots of funders require us to demonstrate community support and match funding.    

Any food we aren't able to hand out, is transformed into living soil which Incredible Edible Neilston will grow food from.

As the growing season begins, produce which Incredible Edible Neilston grow, will find it's way to Blether for people to help themselves to for free.

Thereby creating a proper local circular economy.

We are also going to be creating a shop element, where we hope to sell more locally grown food, thereby ensuring there is dignity for anyone accessing the community fridge, but also to ensure the project is sustainable.

Any support you can offer is gratefully appreciated. We will always be fully transparent with all donations and funding received. 

£1200 would cover the rent for two months.

Blether has been created by Propagate, which is a worker led collective specialising in local, community and sustainable food projects. We work mostly across Central and SouthWest Scotland.

Propagate works collaboratively to co-create equitable, healthy and resilient food systems.

We believe food systems change offers real solutions to addressing our climate, nature and cultural emergency.

We also, inform, educate, advise and network around food and environmental issues in Scotland. We deliver climate-friendly cooking courses, compost creation workshops and workshops which use microscopes to look at the life in our soils, to help people understand the importance of building and protecting our soils. Offer a consultancy and training service that improves strategic planning and practice in relation to food issues, organise events and activities and source funding streams to generate income for above aims Co-operate with other charities and organisations to achieve common goals in synergy with the above-stated aims'