What significant contribution has the nominee made to their rural community?
Mark works tirelessly as a volunteer. He helped establish the small game collection service, getting in touch with all the shoots personally, coordinating the pickups and doing them himself on a Sunday for much of the season. He takes the birds to the game dealer and liaises with them, as well as spending his time driving to foodbanks, community kitchens and homeless shelters across Scotland delivering the meat. I reiterate this is all done as a volunteer. He is a trustee of The Country Food Trust charity, but this is far beyond the role of a trustee.
What has been the impact on their rural community?
Mark has single-handedly showcased what can be done by working with shoots and estates across Scotland to ensure every bird is utilised for a good cause. It is increasingly challenging for shoots and estates to get birds collected and processed to remain viable. By working with The Country Food Trust, it is proving that not only are shoots viable, thus safeguarding 100s of jobs around the country, but they are also helping their community by facilitating the meat being donated. This helps communities suffering food insecurity and the consequent health issues, regain their health and ability to return/keep working and add to the local economy.
How have they involved their rural community?
Mark has contacted many shoots around the country to join the scheme. This has brought together rural communities to work in partnership to make the scheme a success. Mark has also established hubs to take receipt of the food, so that they can deliver it locally. We have hubs in Perth, Inverness and the Borders. Many larger foodbanks also act as a conduit for smaller ones to access the food we are donating as they do not have large scale refrigeration to take large quantities of meat. This is truly a full partnership from the Borders to Caithness to ensure birds are collected and people in need are fed.