Nairn’s Community SOUP

On Thursday 24th October, the Highland Weigh hosted it's monthly Climate Cafe, with a difference.

Inspired by the Detroit Soup and having heard about the successful community soup events held in Caithness previously, the partnership of The Highland Weigh, Green Hive and Highlands & Islands Climate Hub collaborated on Nairn Soup. Designed to be a creative way to engage the wider community in climate action and give them the funding power.

With the Highland Weigh fire roaring and seats filling up, we gave the floor to 3 community organisations pitching for £500. The community organisations included Nairn Men's Shed, Nairn Food Nest and Highland Cycling Ability Centre. The Highland Weigh served up fantastic tomato and lentil soup options, enjoyed by all and empty bowls all round. The community were asked to contribute £5 towards the event which bought them a bowl of soup and a crucial community vote! 

 The community in attendance were highly engaged with lots of questions for all the organisations probing their project readiness, pricing and also capabilities to undertake the projects requesting funding. Following completion of the 3 short presentations, everyone voted for the project they wished to support. It came down to one vote in the end with the winner on the night being Nairn Food Nest but the real winner was community collaboration, sharing and support for all the projects. A real 'feel good' event for all involved. 

A big thank you to The Highland Weigh for hosting the event and facilitating Climate Cafe's every month. The Nairn Food Nest will receive £500 and have been asked to return to the Climate Cafe to report back on their project progress when we will hold our next round of Nairn Soup and hopefully award another round of funding to a community project to take climate action. 

Image Credit: Alexander Williamson