Brechin groups benefit from Game for Giving initiative

The annual Game for Giving scheme has supported people in need throughout the Angus, Grampian and Highland area, including those affected by Storm Arwen.

The Brechin Soup Initiative and Brechin Community Pantry were among the organisations to benefit from a Scotland-wide scheme being supported by the Angus Glens Moorland Group.

The joined with other moorland groups over the festive period to deliver meals to those in need.

First established in 2016, this year’s Game for Giving initiative was bigger than ever, with 1000 meals using Scottish game such as pheasant and partridge being delivered to homeless and vulnerable people in time for Christmas across the county, as well as in Grampian, Strathdearn & Speyside.

The initiative is continuing into the new year and the total number of charitable food deliveries through the scheme will be more than 3000 by the end of February.

Before the pandemic, community lunches were cooked for support groups and care homes, with additional donations from Tesco. This year pheasant and partridge casseroles and game pies were delivered the week before Christmas, with assistance from butcher HM Sheridan of Ballater, the Panmure Arms in Edzell and the Loch Ericht Hotel at Dalwhinnie.

Lianne MacLennan, co-ordinator of the Angus group and national co-ordinator for Scotland’s regional moorland groups, said: “We are incredibly fortunate to have such sustainable and healthy produce right on our door step. The added bonus is having skilled butchers and chefs to assist in delivering the game from estate to plate, in such an easy and tasty way. Helping those within the community is incredibly rewarding, so to see this initiative being rolled out across all regions this year is pretty special.”

Angus gamekeepers, as well as those in other areas, were out in the immediate aftermath of Storm Arwen removing hundreds of trees from blocked roads. They also provided high power lighting to allow power companies to work into the night, supplied food and water to those trapped in their homes and diesel to those whose generators were running low.

Lianne added: “The past 18 months have been very difficult and Storm Arwen was devastating, but there is a fantastic community spirit and we will pull through together.”