Marie Macklin CBE joined the Centrestage team and hopped on their Santa Bus to see first-hand how they are spreading some Christmas cheer to the young people of Ayrshire.

Donning her Santa hat Marie joined Centrestage’s Sheena Boyd and the rest of the ‘On the Road’ team to travel across Ayrshire and deliver high quality food as well as Christmas selection boxes to a host of communities in the area.

Centrestage delivers activities across Ayrshire to over 2,500 beneficiaries and at their heart is the Dignified Food Provision programme.

Every year this programme takes 200 tonnes of surplus, high quality food and redistributes it to communities and individuals experiencing food insecurity, allowing everyone who wishes to participate, regardless of financial status, to take what they need and pay what they can.

The Centrestage ‘On the Road’ team travel across Ayrshire every week and continue to deliver this service across the festive season.

The charity also deliver EAT (Eat and Train) a successful award winning 12-week cooking programme. Delivered by qualified chefs and a leader from their ‘On the Road’ team, EAT teaches the basics of food hygiene and cooking from chopping vegetables to preparing a three-course meal. So far, 105 people have completed the qualification with more in the pipeline for 2019.

Marie Macklin, Founder and Executive Chair of the HALO Urban Regeneration Company and Centrestage Patron, said: “It is always a privilege to join the Centrestage team and see first-hand how much of a positive effect they have on the young people and local communities of Ayrshire.

“Fiona and the team do a fantastic job serving 2,500 recipients and providing high quality food that is affordable to local people.

“I am so proud to be Patron of this wonderful charity and hope the ‘On the Road’ team can enjoy even more success in 2019 and beyond.”