As the festive season approaches, the SPA team are proud to share a tradition close to our hearts; our annual donation to the food and hygiene bank at 1st Step Development Ventures.
For the third year, we chose to replace the usual Secret Santa gifts with a collective effort to give back to our local community. This initiative is a wonderful way for us to truly spread genuine festive cheer to those who need it most.
At the end of November, our team collectively donated almost £150 worth of food and hygiene products, and personally delivered the collection to the 1st Step Food Pantry in Falkirk. This donation will be shared amongst families most in need, ensuring they have the essentials they require, not just for Christmas Day, but into the new year and beyond.
Why 1st Step?
1st Step Development Ventures has been operating since 2016, starting as a supportive community group for people recovering from addiction, before becoming a registered charity in 2018 with multiple sites in Linlithgow and Falkirk. Their main focus is on helping and supporting people impacted by addiction, mental health challenges and social isolation. They do this through a range of activities to offer individuals a sense of purpose, promote independence and inspire confidence in their recovery, by bestowing trust through a multitude of community-facing opportunities.
In 2023, the SPA Community Benefit Fund in partnership with Lintel Trust awarded First Step a grant of £20,000 to build on its service capacity with the addition of a Recovery and Connection Coordinator and Volunteer Support Worker. These hires enabled First Step to grow as they embarked on opening their unit in Falkirk which was an important step in their growth.
The Falkirk Food Pantry is open to anyone who needs the support, reducing food waste while feeding the community in a dignified approach.
Maria Throp, Development Manager at First Step, has said;
At SPA, we are thrilled to have had the opportunity to fund such an incredible project that is having a transformative impact on improving the lives of local people and continue to play a small role in supporting their efforts through these donations.
