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Perthshire Social Enterprise Aims To Feed 100,000 People This Year



A Perthshire farmer feeding families in need with surplus deer is aiming to reach 100,000 people this year, after receiving support from Business Gateway.


Helen Stewart set up Fair Feast after taking over her family's farm near Pitlochry, home to protected moorland that needed regular deer culling to protect the fragile habitat. Rather than see the venison go to waste, she saw an opportunity to turn it into meals for families who needed them.


Fair Feast built a network of food banks across rural Scotland to distribute its venison. With support from food banks, deer managers and the public, the business scaled up operations, leading to the opening of what is believed to be the world's first social enterprise butcher's shop, on Pitlochry's high street earlier this year. Every sale in the shop is now matched by a donation to food banks, so growing the business means growing its impact too.


Venison is often seen as a luxury or an acquired taste, out of reach for families watching every penny. Fair Feast processes it into familiar, everyday products such as mince, sausages and burgers, making it easy to prepare and cook. The new premises also gives the business a permanent base for the first time, meaning produce can reach food banks throughout the year rather than only around seasonal peaks.


To support the business's growth, Helen received expert one-to-one support from Business Gateway adviser Andrew Webster, who advised on expanding into new premises and hiring and training staff.


He also signposted routes to funding and Fair Feast secured £5,000 from the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund and Perth & Kinross Council. Business Gateway also introduced the business to Scottish Enterprise, which has since provided further support through its Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service.


Helen Stewart, founder of Fair Feast, said:

“I could see how our business could genuinely make a difference, not just to the environment, but to families who were going without. What blew me away was how much the local community got behind us. People want to be part of the solution, and the support from Business Gateway has been a huge part of getting us to a point where we can properly scale up.”

Andrew Webster, Business Gateway adviser, said:

“Helen's vision and drive have created a genuinely unique business. She's engaged the whole community and is making a real difference to food poverty in Perthshire. It's been a pleasure supporting her through the shop opening, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the business goes next.”

To find out more about how Business Gateway can help your business, visit here.


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  • Jun 30
  • 2 min read


This Pride Month (June), regional homebuilder Allison Homes has donated £500 to Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre for the fourth consecutive year.


Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre is an inclusive space in the heart of Leicester city centre, dedicated to celebrating diversity, fostering community and providing support for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The charity offers a range of support services and hosts events, workshops and social gatherings throughout the year.


Allison Homes’ £500 donation will assist with the general running costs associated with the centre, helping the charity to connect with more people in need of support across Leicestershire and Rutland.


The housebuilder first supported Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre in June 2023 and has made annual donations every Pride Month since, with the total donation amount now standing at £2,000.


Carla Hills, Interim Centre Manager at Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre, said:

“We're incredibly grateful to Allison Homes for supporting Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre for the fourth year in a row. It is brilliant to be able to count on their continued support and to see a regional business recognise the importance of investing in local charities and community organisations."

“This donation will help us continue providing vital support, information and services to around 800 LGBTQ+ people each year across Leicestershire. We are delighted to have Allison Homes alongside us on that journey.”


Karl Edwards, Managing Director at Allison Homes East Midlands, said:

“Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre carries out vital work in our community, ensuring everyone has a safe space to turn to if they need support, guidance or to connect with peers. We take great pride in donating to the charity for a fourth time, helping them to continue offering their important services."

“At Allison Homes, we make annual Pride Month donations across all of our regions. As a business we strive to create inclusive communities for both our residents and employees, and will continue to foster an open culture where people of all identities feel supported and heard.”


Allison Homes’ East Midlands region operates from Castle Donington. In Leicestershire, homes at St Mary’s Chase in Stanton under Bardon, Markfield and Finney Meadows in Shepshed are available now, and a further two developments, Auster Meadows in Rearsby and Gynsill Grange in Anstey, are coming soon. In the neighbouring county of Nottinghamshire, Allison Homes East Midlands is delivering new homes at Hayes View in Cotgrave.


To find out more about Allison Homes, visit here. For more information on Leicestershire LGBTQ+ Centre, visit here.

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