A new charity set up by a Glasgow councillor has been launched to support and guide organisations who are thinking about setting up a pantry.

The Scottish Pantry Network, developed by councillor Mandy Morgan, aims to divert food away from landfill and promoting a sustainable, dignified approach to food insecurity that will aid physical as well as mental health.

So far there have been three pantries set up in Glasgow at Ruchazie, Parkhead and Castlemilk with a further three being developed at Old Dumbarton Road, Govan Road and Wester Common.

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The organisation hope to expand throughout Scotland with the help of local authorities and the Scottish Government.

Councillor Morgan said: “The network aims to bring about support for the pantries which are already set up. It will work with community transport to ensure as many people can access them as possible.

“We need as many people going to the pantries as possible to make them sustainable. We want to role this out across the country. We are working with organisations in Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde.

“The network is there for the pantries, so we help them to support the community. We need to make things as sustainable as possible. We want to run projects around food education and provide tutorials and I am working with HSPC to do that.”

The charity can provide expert advice and step by step guidance on everything people need to know about setting up a Pantry.

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It works with local growers/suppliers to ensure there is enough food in the supply chain to fill the shops, working with suppliers to get food to the stores quickly when unexpected surpluses arise.

Ms Morgan added: “It is something that everyone is interested in. By working with the charities that are already established we can hopefully link in with the work they are doing as well.

“The pantries have been a great success so far. People like visiting them as there is a good vibe and atmosphere. It’s good because we are pushing that climate change as well to make sure there is less surplus food going to the landfill. This about a coordinated approach to make these pantries sustainable as possible and to ensure they are there long term.”

For more information visit https://www.scottishpantrynetwork.com/