How volunteers epitomise the spirit of collaboration that Scotland needs – Sam Adderly
Volunteers, supermarkets and people living with food insecurity all benefit from an Edinburgh depot that processes donations of food which would otherwise go to waste
In 2024, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations estimated that there were more than a million formal volunteers operating in Scotland. Whether it be with local community groups, children’s sports teams or at heritage sites, so much of what makes Scotland such a welcoming, vibrant place to live is the direct consequence of volunteers.
It is my pleasure, as an employee at the Cyrenians’ Depot, in partnership with Felix (formally known as Fareshare), to work alongside many such volunteers, whose donation of time helps us combat food waste and food insecurity. As a team, we work to process hundreds of tons of items every week – food donated by supermarkets that would otherwise go into landfill.
After the items are logged in the system, community food members can then order whatever they need, whether it be ingredients for a school breakfast club or a community larder. Often run by volunteers themselves, these groups provide a lifeline to some of the one million people estimated to be living in food insecurity in Scotland.
A problem turned into an opportunity
Without our volunteers – including some who have been with us for decades – we would not be able to rescue great food and give it to people who need it. Volunteers allow us to turn an environmental problem into a social opportunity, and this is something that benefits everyone – from the supermarkets to the people who rely on community larders as a lifeline.
Many of the people who donate their time to us, find us when they are starting a new chapter in life and looking for change. This was the case for one of our most dedicated volunteers.
He said: “I have volunteered at Cyrenians for about a year now, I found out about Cyrenians through my support worker who used to work for them years ago. Since I have engaged with them, they have been very supportive and kind. They've helped me build up my CV and helped me to fine tune it so it stands out more.
“Since working at the Cyrenians Depot... in Seafield, I have managed to obtain my forklift license through them and gained some experience unloading the trucks as well. The staff and other volunteers are all really nice, great atmosphere and you also get the opportunity to try different foods sometimes and help people in the community who need food to get it. A worthy cause."
Cost-of-living crisis
I hope the experience that this person has had of volunteering with us is the experience we have been able to give all of our long-term volunteers. The same way that the supermarkets benefit from the community food groups, we benefit from volunteers, and vice versa.
As we face an increasingly unpredictable climate and the cost of living continues to increase, I believe that the solutions our country needs lie in our ability to collaborate with one another as a community.
I feel lucky to work in an environment where I see examples of that every day.
Sam Adderly is a development worker at homelessness charity Cyrenians
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