VOLUNTEERS and staff at a Castlemilk community project are celebrating after being given a cash boost to feed local residents.

Communities Secretary Angela Constance visited Castlemilk Community Meals yesterday to announce the funding.

The group, based in Castlemilk Parish Church, offers cooked meals to locals in conscious move away from food banks.

Twice a month the project opens its doors to locals to help address food poverty and alleviate social isolation.

As part of the Fair Food Fund, it will receive a share of £350,000.

Ms Constance stated that the current reliance on foodbanks is “unacceptable”.

She said: “What strikes me from being here is that there is a high level of need and deprivation which people experience on a day to day level.

“They are resilient but that doesn’t excuse what they are having to put up with, for example benefit sanctions.

“There is a spirit of community activism where people want to change their lives.

“They’re not prepared to be downbeat or stay in their house - they’re actively trying to combat poverty.

“Our investment in Castlemilk is about addressing the need and food poverty and the way that this group is trying to address food poverty. There’s a real recognition of the social value of food here.

“That doesn’t take away the responsibility of the Scottish Government or the British Government in making things better.

“It is a fund that is enabling grassroots organisations to tackle food poverty - we shouldn’t have food poverty in this country in the first place.”

Linda Robertson, 32, visits the project at Castlemilk Parish Church regularly with her nine-month-old daughter and will be part of the first couple to get married under its roof.

She said: “I’m quite friendly with the minister because my son officially opened the church. It’s good to come down because it means you don’t have to rush about making the kids dinner.

“You walk in and everybody makes you feel welcome.

“It’s better to come in and get a cooked meal. I’ve been homeless and going to foodbank is much more difficult.”

Paul Cathcart, Deacon at Castlemilk Parish Church, describes the project as “quite biblical” in bringing people together to share a meal.

He explained: “As a community church it’s important to bring people together.

“People come to be part of something. I think that feeling of just being rather than doing is really good.

“Over the years people have been de-skilled and they have become demotivated because of that.

“Part of what we want to do is tell people that they’re valued. The message they’re getting from the government is that they’re not valued.”