PLANS to introduce an innovative community food hub to help tackle the problem of poor diet among the elderly in East Lothian have been given national support.

Dementia Friendly East Lothian (DFEL) has won funding to help create a centre which it hopes will bring young people together with the older generation to learn about cooking, nutrition and growing food.

The community food hub’s aim is to tackle problems caused by a lack of motivation for elderly people to eat well, often because of isolation or loneliness.

The hub aims to bring them together and use their knowledge to help educate younger generations about food, as well as promoting an inter-generational approach to cooking.

And it is hoped the project will lead to a home delivery service which not only delivers freshly-cooked meals but sends volunteers out to elderly people’s homes with ingredients so they can cook together in their kitchen.

The project has been backed by Scottish Government Minister Fiona Hyslop MSP and Age Scotland.

Ms Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, said: “The new community food hub is a really exciting innovation, tapping into East Lothian’s rich food and farming resources and traditions.

“The hub will also create opportunities for all ages to come together to grow, prepare and eat together.”

The idea behind the project is to harness the skills of the older generation and build relationships to help benefit old and young.

It has received backing from the Big Lottery Investing in Ideas fund which will finance the research and development of the hub, which DFEL hopes will be rolled out across the county.

A spokesperson for the group said: “The hub would provide the opportunity for older and younger people to come together in the growing, preparation and eating of interesting, nutritious food.

“We think the social interaction around this would build relationships across communities.

“It will allow the younger generation to learn skills from the older, with the potential to share lost skills in both cooking and food growing, boosting the sense of purpose and self-worth of the elderly, reducing loneliness and social isolation for both groups and strengthening local community bonds and respect.”

The project is in the research stage, with a business plan expected to be produced by the end of August.

DFEL is looking for premises for the hub in Haddington and is speaking to local groups about working together to get it going.

Richard Baker, policy officer with Age Scotland, welcomed the plans.

He said: “This project will be of great value in bringing older people together and helping to tackle the loneliness and isolation which is a problem for too many older people in our society.

“One in 10 older people say they feel lonely most or all of the time. In promoting healthy eating the project will bring great benefits too.

“Age Scotland is promoting healthy active ageing and advice on a healthy diet is a key aspect. Improving diet and lifestyle has been linked to reduced risk of cancer, heart disease and dementia.

“Promoting inter-generational work is also important. Fostering links between older and younger people promotes greater understanding of the needs of people in different demographics and helps tackle age discrimination.”