Veterans Centre Kitchen Transformation Brings Community Together Thanks to The MacRobert Trust Support

A fully refurbished and modernised kitchen at the Erskine Veterans Activity Centre in Forres (EVAC North) is already transforming the lives of local Veterans, thanks to a generous £50,000 grant from The MacRobert Trust through the Douneside Award Scheme to Erskine, Scotland’s leading Veterans’ charity.

The donation has enabled the Centre in Forres, Morayshire, to create a welcoming community dining space where Veterans can enjoy affordable hot meals, build friendships, take part in social activities and access future learning opportunities.

The support and generosity of The MacRobert Trust has been instrumental in bringing the project to life and creating a warm, inclusive environment where Veterans can come together, share meals and combat loneliness and social isolation.

Before the refurbishment, the Centre’s kitchen facilities were no longer fit for purpose, meaning outside catering had to be brought in and meals were limited to soup and sandwiches. Many members live alone and can experience loneliness, while others face financial insecurity and, amid the continued cost-of-living crisis, can struggle to afford food shopping.

Thanks to the newly refurbished kitchen, EVAC North can now provide a much more varied menu of hot, nutritious, and filling meals at a low cost. Staff and volunteers also sit and eat alongside members, helping encourage conversation, camaraderie, and friendship.

The upgraded facilities are already creating a vibrant atmosphere within the Centre and will be supporting themed events throughout the year, including V.E Day, Remembrance, Independence Day, Halloween, and Christmas celebrations. Members will also have opportunities to volunteer and help support lunches and special events.

The redevelopment has also created employment opportunities for two local people, David Haytack, Chef, Veteran, and former vice-chair of the EVAC North members’ committee, and Kirsty McKelvie, Catering Assistant/Chef.

Future plans include introducing cookery classes where members can learn more about healthy eating, budgeting, and preparing nutritious meals at home, particularly benefiting Veterans who live alone.

Davie Grant, EVAC North Manager, commented: “For some people it might be the only hot meal they have that day. The kitchen helps bring people together, it’s a great tool for getting people in the room together and communicating. It helps their physical wellbeing. You can see the difference in the members, they aren’t slouched at tables, they are sitting up, energised. They have smiles on their faces. There is a fantastic atmosphere in the recreation room, a whole different atmosphere. We had 30 members in for lunch today and there wasn’t a spare seat in the room.”

Fiona Imlach, EVAC North Deputy Manager, added: “It’s been a fantastic success, the members have even been saying ‘Compliments to the Chef!’”

Members have also praised the new dining experience.

One member said: “I absolutely love the Centre, it’s just amazing – everything that’s been done here. The food just caps it off.”

Additional feedback from members has been overwhelmingly positive with Veterans highly praising the kitchen and the staff.

Lesley Cowie, Trusts and Foundations Manager commented: “We are so thankful to have received this £50,000 donation from The MacRobert Trust which has enabled the much-needed refurbishment of the kitchen. It is a vital resource that will not only ensure the members can enjoy a hot meal but encourages connection and conversation round the tables. And, when cookery classes are introduced, Veterans, especially those who live alone, will be able to learn how to cook nutritious and filling meals. It will have such a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Veterans attending EVAC North.”

Gillian Currie, CEO of The MacRobert Trust, said: “The MacRobert Trust is delighted to support the Activity Centre in Forres with its next stage of development. Supporting the Armed Forces is one of our key charitable pillars, and it was evident that EVAC North has a significant and long-lasting impact on veterans in the local area and beyond. It is fantastic to see this project come to life.”

The generosity and continued support of The MacRobert Trust has helped create far more than a kitchen, it has created a welcoming community hub where Veterans can gather, enjoy companion