The below article was written and published by the Springburn Herald and appeared in the paper’s edition of 22/11/06 under the “Wednesday People” column.  It features NGCFI’s Project Manager Greig Sandilands

" THIS week reporter Alison Rennie talks to Greig Sandilands, the new project manager of the North Glasgow Community Food Initiative.

The initiative began in 2001 as a project run by Glasgow University students to provide cheap, healthy food for asylum seekers and refugees living in the north of the city.

Earlier this year it was one of just two food initiatives in the UK to be given the prestigious Dame Sheila McKecknie Award for the work it does promoting healthy eating in the community.

What attracted you to the North Glasgow Community Food Initiative?

Well, my background is community work and I felt the food initiative had a very positive agenda. I was really keen to work in the health field and help people improve their quality of life.

What are the main things the food initiative does in the community?

There are a few. One is the  allotments – we have one in Springburn and one in Hamitonhill where we grow fresh fruit and veg.

Abi Morden leads the sessions and we have volunteers who come along and help. We also work with schools who come down and join in as well.

It’s a good opportunity for people to learn more about fruit and veg and where it comes from.

We sell cheap fruit and veg in sessions across the north of the city. They are always busy and it’s much cheaper than supermarket prices, which helps people on a low income get access to healthier food.

We also run various healthy cooking classes and demonstrations around the area.

Anything else?

Soon we’ll be starting to input into P7 classes in 20 primary schools across North Glasgow, which is something we haven’t done before.

We’ll be focusing on healthy food in one hour sessions and the project will last four months.

We’ll be giving the children examples of healthy options for different things.

What do you think of Jamie Oliver’s campaign to improve school meals?

I think the Scottish Executive is already working to promote healthy schools meals. However, anecdotal evidence shows some pupils are voting with their feet on the idea.

We would be particularly interested in seeing more pupils given a chance to cook healthy meals and let them have a shot at it. They would take ownership of the food because they’ve cooked it themselves.

We are aware of case studies from America where that approach has been successful.

The initiative has a lot of   volunteers doesn’t it?

Yes, we have a volunteer co-ordinator, Kate Robinson, who looks after our 35 volunteers. We are always looking for more though!

At the moment we are desperately needing someone to drive our minibus, that would be a big help.

Our volunteers are involved in everything from office work to working on the allotments or helping with the fruit and veg sales.

And everyone is working on the upcoming Eat to the Beat fundraiser?

Yes, we are all working hard on that! Fundraising is a necessary part of any charity and we are always looking for new ways to get money to keep going and developing.

What does the future hold for the North Glasgow Community Food Initiative?

We would like to become more eco-friendly and link the community with sources of food. Then we can be guaranteed a higher quality product which would hopefully be organic as well.

We are also exploring a partnership with North Glasgow Community Health and Care Partnership which will involve physical activity for middle-aged adults in certain areas.

Our volunteers are very important to us and we are keen they continue to have opportunities to develop their skills so we are looking at Scottish Enterprise, as well as linking up with various housing associations as well.

There are lots of things we’d like to develop."