Glasgow charity boss makes vow as cost of living crisis continues

The Courtyard Pantry Enterprise, based on Wester Common Drive in North Glasgow, runs multiple projects to support the local community.

These include a food pantry, a welcome space and a newly-opened community cafe.

Managing director Dale Todd looked back on the fast-growing venture, which is due to turn one year old in the coming months.

Dale Todd, the Courtyard Pantry Enterprise (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Dale and Alessandra, at Toshie's community cafe (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

He said: “Things are tough with regards to funding and our members are still in need of the food we provide, so it’s a challenge.

“The cost of living crisis has been around longer than the last couple of years.

“Particularly, with inflation, every supermarket raised their prices, so we kept our charge at £2.50, to provide as much support as possible for our members.

“We will do this as long as we can to help our members.

“I doubt there is an end in sight. We are looking to tackle those structural causes of poverty."

The group got a major uplift last December when it won the Team Award at the Community Champions Awards.

Having been set up only a few months earlier, they were ecstatic about the victory.

Todd said: “First and foremost, it gave the team a huge lift. It was a genuine surprise, particularly knowing the groups we were up against and seeing the organisations who won the other awards.

“We were relatively new, so we didn’t really think we were in the running, we were just happy to be nominated.

“So, to win, gave the team and me a huge boost and it has been a very difficult time with the pandemic and the subsequent cost of living crisis. Trying to get a new charity off the ground, you don’t often get to reflect on all the good work that is being done.

“This gave us an opportunity to do that.

“We proudly display our award in the pantry.

“And secondly, it gives us legitimacy. It’s something that we proudly put at the end of our emails and make reference to when relevant, particularly with funding applications."

Since taking the honour, the Courtyard Pantry has opened its newest venture Toshie's, a community cafe.

Officially welcoming customers since March, the venue is based in Garscube Road and serves coffee, cakes and most importantly, employment opportunities for locals.

Looking into the future, volunteers and staff hope to set up a catering business and get even more involved in the community.

They hope to support locals through every new aspect of the charity.

We want to hear about inspirational individuals and great groups in your area - who do you think deserves recognition for fantastic community work?

You can nominate anyone, from a community cop who goes above and beyond the day job to the inspirational teenager making waves at school, from pensioners campaigning for better services to grass-roots sports coaches inspiring young people to get active.

Tell us why they should win and remember to include lots of detail and photographs and video to support your entry.

You can nominate online by clicking here, or email stephen.laughlin@localiq.co.uk.

For more information, call 0141 302 6019.

The closing date for entries is Thursday, September 14.

A shortlist will go to a public online vote to determine the winners in each area – North East, North West and South - who will then progress to the Grand Final at Glasgow City Chambers on December 5.

A judging panel made up of representatives from the award partners will decide the Grand Final winners.