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Our Community

PureMalt are proud to support charitable initiatives within our network.
Read the blog for the latest updates within our community.

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Our Community Kitchen exists to reduce social isolation for people of all ages and abilities by bringing together the local community of Haddington and Lammermuir to enjoy good hearty fresh food and allowing friendships to form.  OCK runs from Haddington Bowling Club and has organically developed. We also work with our local Area Partnership around holiday hunger for pupils whose families are in receipt of a low income. 

We normally bring up to 90 people together each week, however, we have stopped our usual way of working to respond to this horrendous coronavirus. We are still continuing to change people’s lives through food, but in a very different way.

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Haddington Rugby Football Club has a proud history.  We are delighted to have PureMalt as our primary sponsor, particularly with their strong industrial heritage within the town.

Building rugby teams is multi-faceted. The support that PureMalt provides to Haddington RFC enables us to ensure that our senior teams have strips to wear, that we can ensure adequate changing facilities to members of all ages and genders, as well as for community clubs and schools. PureMalt has enabled us to ensure that the next crop of players is developed by enabling coaches to be accredited, as well as providing funding for our Youth Development Officer.

The difference PureMalt has had on the club is not only based upon financial investment. PureMalt has become a part of the Haddington RFC family. Whether attending games, or by recognising success by selecting and presenting “Man of the Match” awards, PureMalt has always shown a keen interest in the success of the club. We look forward to this continuing long into the future, with Haddington RFC and PureMalt remaining at the heart of the community.

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The Club currently has around 270 players, with around 70 volunteers, who are either Coaches or Committee members. The Club has a development pathway for players, from 5 year-olds in our Soccer School, through to adults in the 1st Team. We have boys’ and girls’ youth teams, playing 7, 9 & 11-a- side football, in both the Edinburgh and East Lothian Leagues. The 1st Team play in the East of Scotland League and have recently been accepted for a Full Licence, by the SFA, which will enable them to play in the Scottish Cup.

The Youth teams play out of the fantastic facility at Whittingehame Drive, which includes a Pavilion and floodlit 3G all weather pitch. The 1st Team are based at Millfield, on the enclosed floodlit grass pitch.

PureMalt have generously sponsored our 2009 youth team since 2019, purchasing home and away kits for the team. This has been a huge help to the team financially and we fully appreciate the support that our neighbours at PureMalt provide.

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PureMalt are proud to support and sponsor local team 'Five in a Row'. They will be raising money for the charity 'Reverse Rett'. The team of 5 will make up 1 of 30 teams participating from around the world in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Rowing Challenge, crossing from La Gomera to Antigua.

December 2022 and January 2023

OUR COMMUNITY KITCHEN

December was a busy month for OCK. They hosted a crafts fair and are so grateful to have raised a total of £626.50 towards their work from teas, coffees, soup and bake sale, stall holder fees and a raffle. Thank you to OCK's amazing volunteer and staff team, people who baked, stall holders and the people who came along for a cuppa for making the day so fantastic. 

In December, OCK received lots of wonderful donations in which they are very thankful for and are grateful for everyone's continued support. A big thank you to;

  • Scottish Women's institute in Humbie who donated £110 
  • Fiona Watson, CrossFit Haddington raised and donated £340 from a wreath making class.
  • Jean and Drew who gave OCK a Christmas tree
  • Parents at Knight Fever Dance School who donated a generous supply of food 
  • Haddington Co-op for irresistible mince pies and chocolate oranges for Christmas day 
  • Charlies Pies and Pate (Charlie is the chef in Tyneside) for the delicious pate
  • Social Work Department at Randall House for the very generous donation from their tuck shop sales 
  • Shiva and Shanthi at Haddington Wines and Whiskies for the fizz to enjoyed on Christmas day!
  • Isobel and Ian who bought 70 fantastic Christmas hats
  • Logans for the sprouts 
  • Haddington Bouncy Castles for the amazing selection boxes
  • Margot who donated hot water bottles and beautiful knitted covers for participants.
  • Darren from RBS who came to volunteer
  • Alison Hunton for a donation towards Christmas Day

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Children from the Peartree nursery sang for OCK in the month of December, and brought along a handmade cake. Haddington Infants nursery have also been baking for them. The First Haddington Rainbow Guides sang Christmas songs for OCK participants and they thoroughly enjoyed.

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One of our own team members, Henry, visited OCK, bringing along a new menu board for their Christmas table. 

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This week, OCK want to highlight one of their team members, Sylvia. She makes everyone who comes into contact with OCK smile everyday. She has so much energy and has an abundance of love she keeps spreading around to everyone. A fantastic organiser too and keeps OCK strong in more ways than one. Sylvia is a rock for so many at OCK and goes above and beyond her role. 

While December was full of donations and Christmas festivities, January was a quieter month at OCK. 

Winter activities were enjoyed by OCK participants, Bingo brought in by Bev, movie nights, walking groups and more. 

In honour of Robert Burn's, OCK hosted a Burns lunch. Chef Pete cooked up Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, with Cranaken for dessert and Tonia and Helen beautifully decorated the table. The traditional sayings and poems were said beautifully; 

  • Mr. Alan Sheerin addressed the Haggis
  • A participant John read the address to Rabbie
  • OCK's trustee and participant, Alison introduced and said a toast to friends who have passed and will never be forgotten
  • Tonia read Flow Gently Sweet Afton
  • Provost John McMillan read the reply on behalf of the guests
  • A Red Rose said by Hannah and Kirstie was Knox Academy

  • Olivia said the Selkirk Grace

  • Thanks to Piper Callum also

What a wonderful day had to honour Rabbie Burns. OCK wou;d also like to thank Knox Academy pupils Lauren Clark (Head Girl)  and Oscar Pirie (Head Boy )who were their MC's and hosts for the day, and to all of our special guests and regular attendees for joining.  Bringing the community together!

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OCK are delighted to have been accepted onto the blue token scheme in Tesco Haddington. Every time you pay for shopping, you should be given a token at the checkout to pop into the box near customer service, and if not, you could ask for them.  They would very much appreciate you considering OCK for this, helping to continue reducing isolation and loneliness in our local area.

 

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Written by Amy Donnelly

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