The Haven Community Food Larder (The Larder) will be closing on 30 June 2023. The Larder closing will come as a devastating blow to the community especially families and individuals working hard to make ends meet. With increasing numbers of people in work experiencing poverty compared to those in unemployment and benefits, the Stonehaven and surrounding community are struggling with the high cost of living.

The Larder, which has been providing food and basic household supplies to their 550 larder members for over three years, is forced to close due to rising operational costs of rent and food prices. The two tonnes of food waste collected monthly from local businesses and Fareshare is not enough to feed the 1279 people supported by The Larder each month. This fact, combined with donations dropping, meant more food was having to be purchased to fill The Larder shelves.

Despite the tireless efforts of staff, volunteers and community members, The Larder simply can not keep up with the rising costs, leaving 926 adults and 353 children without a local non-means tested self-referral food provision. Two staff roles will also be made redundant as a result of the closure.
While the closing of The Larder undoubtedly affects the most vulnerable in Stonehaven and surrounding communities, it also highlights the wider issues of food insecurity and poverty that are affecting millions of families across the country. As the cost of living continues to rise, more and more people are finding it difficult to put food on the table, leading to a rise in demand and pressure on local community-led food provision. A list of food organisations closures around the country can be found here.

The Larder has been run by 63 volunteers called Haven Helpers covering 1024 larder shifts including staying open during holidays, like Christmas, a time when most food larders are shut. Starkeeper Morton, founder of The Haven and The Larder commented: “We have demonstrated what is possible when a community comes together in a compassionate and cohesive way. The Larder would not have been possible without the support of 24 partners, 39 businesses, 11 local schools / nurseries, 25 community groups and organisations, and most of all the immeasurable impact of community spirit.”

The Haven will be continuing to meet their charitable aims of food education and reducing food waste through The Haven Plot teaching garden and The Haven Kitchen that offers community cooking classes. Remaining funds from The Larder will be ring fenced to continue to support community food.

Chair of The Haven Board, Thane Lawrie stated:, “Although disappointing news , we are confident that The Haven can find other sustainable ways of supporting the community through food alongside our wellbeing charitable aims.”
For now, the closure of the Larder is a stark reminder of the impact of the cost of living crisis on our most vulnerable community members. But it's also a call to action – a reminder that we all have a role to play in ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry.

The Haven is asking for support from caring members of the community to join its free “Friends of The Haven” membership in hope of one day securing our own premises and not being reliant on leases. It is also a way to stay connected and find inclusive, creative and compassionate solutions for the most vulnerable.

Sign up to be a “Friend of The Haven” by clicking this link here.

A list of community food initiatives still operating in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire can be found here.
The Haven wishes to acknowledge and thank all their supporters.

PARTNERSHIPS
Aberdeenshire Council Social Work
Aberdeenshire Council Work Experience
Aberdeenshire Fair Food Partnership
Aberdeenshire Food Network
Aberdeenshire Food Strategy Group
Aberdeenshire Parental Employment Support Fund
Aberdeenshire Tackling Poverty & Inequalities Group
Alcohol and Drugs Action UK
Alzheimers Scotland
Cfine
ChildSmile
Coop
DWP/Kickstart - providing employment opportunities
Elevate Teen Group
Fair Food Aberdeenshire Food Security and Food Culture/Environment Sub Groups
Free Period Products Hub for South Aberdeenshire/Kincardine and Mearns
GRAM - to provide free contraception to the community
NHS Grampian
One Seed Forward
Pillar Kincardine
Penumbra
SSPCA
Tesco
Surplus with Purpose
Volunteering Matters

FUNDERS
Aberdeen University Students Show
Aberdeenshire Council Community Food Fund
Aberdeenshire Council Community Resilience Fund
Aberdeenshire Council Kincardine & Mearns Area Committee ACT2
Aberdeenshire Tackling Poverty & Inequality
ABRDN Group Charitable Foundation
Asda
Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
COOP
Hubbub
Scotmid
Scottish Government
STV Appeal
Suncor
TAQA
Wood Group Youth & Philanthropy Initiative
Yorkshire Building Society

COMMUNITY COUNCILS
Catterline, Kinneff and Dunnottar Community Council
Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council
Newtonhill, Muchalls & Cammachmore Community Council

COMMUNITY GROUPS
Beavers
Bettridge Centre/ Reactive8 Coffee Morning
Brio
British Legion Stonehaven
Catterline WRI
Chapelton of Elsick 10k
Deen Divas SWI
Dellavaird WRI
Drumlithie Improvements Group
Edenholme
Inspire
Live Life Aberdeenshire
Mackie Rugby Football Club
Mackie Youth Football
Newtonhill Allotments
Newtonhill Village Association
North of Scotland SBT Club Show
Rotary Club of Stonehaven
SNP Stonehaven & Lower Deeside
Stonehaven Brownies
Stonehaven Gardening Club
Stonehaven Rock Choir
Stonehaven Vaccination Centre
Stonehaven Youth Football Club
Ury Players

SCHOOLS
Arduthie School
Babes in Wood Nursery
Carronhill School
Dunnottar School
Glenbervie School
International School Aberdeen
Lairhillock School
Lathallan School
Mackie Academy
Mearns Academy
Mill O’ Forest School

BUSINESSES
A&I Taxis
Aberdein Considine
All Wrapped Up
Arnold Clark
Bank of Scotland
Bayview Apartments
Bow-Wowz Dog Grooming
Brae
Brio Retirement Living/Brio Landale Court
Carmont Valley Livestock
Castleton Farm
Charles McHardy’s
Charles Michies
Colin Brown - Artist
Commsbank
CS Corporate Solutions
E.Giulianotti
Event ™
Foodie Quine & Friends
Gumblossom
Inverted: Circus & Pole Fitness
Istana
James & George Collie
Jenny’s Tropic
Kuk Sool Won of Stonehaven
Lembas Organic
M & Co
Macphies
McGillivray Architects
MMA Offshore
My Beautiful Caravan
Replenish
Scallywags
Scape Energy
Scotmid
Station Hotel - Stonehaven
Stonehaven Bed Centre
Stonehaven Bowen Therapy
The Red, Red Robin
Turriff’s Fruit & Vegetable Merchants
Villa Coffee Shop
Vista Landscapes

FOODBANKS
Aberdeenshire South Foodbank
Catalyst Church

ONWARD REFERRALS & SIGNPOSTING
ADP
Al-Anon
Gamblers Anonymous
Homestart
Kincardine & Mearns Citizens Advice Bureau
Kincardine and Mearns Befriending
Man Chat
Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living
Pillar
Samaritans
SAMH
SCARF
Stonehaven Community Sports Hub