At Nourish, our new project looks at researching the ‘British restaurants’ government initiative of the 1940s to develop a Public Dining concept that will support local communities today. British Restaurants were created to provide a hot, healthy, and cheap meal (9p equivalent to £1.50 today) to those who needed it such as those who had homes destroyed by bombings, ran out of food rations, were desperate for support and a place to socialise and to feel a part of a community. By 1943 there was more than 2,000 restaurants serving 500,000 meals a day. Restaurants were set up by local councils in safe spaces from town halls to local churches, they also featured artwork to make the space engaging and joyful- not just a simple soup kitchen but a proud place for community. We want individuals from all backgrounds, anywhere in Scotland, with a range of skills and abilities to join us on researching this forgotten history! We are also interested in learning from international examples of state-subsidized dining experiences as further inspiration for our framework of Public Diners. Our current community researchers have found examples all over the world such as: Milk Bars (Poland), Hawker Centres (Singapore), Langar’s (Sikh Gurdwara), Peoples Commune Kitchens (China) and many more. This is a mostly at home role, where volunteers can access online collections and archives for anything relating to British Restaurants in Scotland. Volunteers are encouraged, if able, to visit local museums, archives, and libraries for this research also. We will provide support and training for volunteers for accessing these materials. The role also includes interviewing members of the public who may have visited/ used these restaurants during World War Two and after. We will also be interviewing individuals who also used international examples of state subsidised restaurants. This will involve the actual interviewing but recording and transcribing the session. We will also provide support and training (through a separate group) on this. This means that occasionally a volunteer may need to travel to interviewing locations. Volunteers will be reimbursed for travel and related costs, this will be further explained during onboarding. Volunteers can also be involved with outreach strategies to find interviewees. All these resources and materials will be used to create a touring exhibition on British Restaurants as evidence and inspiration to how they would work today; Public Diners. Volunteers also have the opportunity to assist in the curation of this exhibition. This is a great opportunity for those interested in advancing their academic journey or career in the heritage sector or even if you are interested in local history! For more information about the project and the type of research we are looking for please visit our website: https://www.nourishscotland.org/projects/public-diners/

At Nourish, our new project looks at researching the ‘British restaurants’ government initiative of the 1940s to develop a Public Dining concept that will support local communities today. British Restaurants were created to provide a hot, healthy, and cheap meal (9p equivalent to £1.50 today) to those who needed it such as those who had homes destroyed by bombings, ran out of food rations, were desperate for support and a place to socialise and to feel a part of a community. By 1943 there was more than 2,000 restaurants serving 500,000 meals a day. Restaurants were set up by local councils in safe spaces from town halls to local churches, they also featured artwork to make the space engaging and joyful- not just a simple soup kitchen but a proud place for community. We want individuals from all backgrounds, anywhere in Scotland, with a range of skills and abilities to join us on researching this forgotten history! We are also interested in learning from international examples of state-subsidized dining experiences as further inspiration for our framework of Public Diners. Our current community researchers have found examples all over the world such as: Milk Bars (Poland), Hawker Centres (Singapore), Langar’s (Sikh Gurdwara), Peoples Commune Kitchens (China) and many more. This is a mostly at home role, where volunteers can access online collections and archives for anything relating to British Restaurants in Scotland. Volunteers are encouraged, if able, to visit local museums, archives, and libraries for this research also. We will provide support and training for volunteers for accessing these materials. The role also includes interviewing members of the public who may have visited/ used these restaurants during World War Two and after. We will also be interviewing individuals who also used international examples of state subsidised restaurants. This will involve the actual interviewing but recording and transcribing the session. We will also provide support and training (through a separate group) on this. This means that occasionally a volunteer may need to travel to interviewing locations. Volunteers will be reimbursed for travel and related costs, this will be further explained during onboarding. Volunteers can also be involved with outreach strategies to find interviewees. All these resources and materials will be used to create a touring exhibition on British Restaurants as evidence and inspiration to how they would work today; Public Diners. Volunteers also have the opportunity to assist in the curation of this exhibition. This is a great opportunity for those interested in advancing their academic journey or career in the heritage sector or even if you are interested in local history! For more information about the project and the type of research we are looking for please visit our website: https://www.nourishscotland.org/projects/public-diners/

We are looking for enthusiastic and friendly volunteers who can regularly give us four hours of their time per fortnight. We are currently open 2 days a week from 11am to 3pm and are hoping to increase our opening hours in the near future. Duties of the role include: • Welcoming visitors and answering questions • Selling museum publications • Recording visitor information • Receiving items donated by members of the public We are looking for people who have: · An interest in Dalkeith’s history · Good people skills · Good listening skills Experience of using Word and Excel would be a bonus You can check out our website for more information about the museum at www.dalkeithmuseum.co.uk. A volunteer application form can be downloaded and printed from the site for completion. Alternatively, email volunteers@dalkeithmuseum.co.uk if you would like to be contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator.

Volunteers we need you, with you inspiration and motivation to serve as a board member on the Management Board of HALLA (Harlaw Area Lifelong Learning Association). We are a Board of people who run daytime and evening classes at Kaimhill Learning Centre. We have a FB page ( @HALLACommunity) where you can see some of our activities and tutored classes. We meet once a month to discuss new opportunities and management issues, to find new ways of how-to bring people of all ages in the local community into the centre. We have several weekly, social, informal learning groups where Board members can get to know each other and form a friendly working relationship. A volunteer should be passionate, enthusiastic and have a keen interest in community matters. A volunteer does not necessarily require specific skills since we all support each other to develop new skills but if you have specific ones, it would be good to introduce them to the rest of the Board so we can use them to benefit the local community. The Board would appreciate people with knowledge of IT and office procedures but enthusiasm and interest in the community are equally important. This is an amazing opportunity to discover your “hidden talents” !!! You are very welcome to attend a committee meeting and see if this is for you. WE ARE WAITING TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR FRIENDY AND DIVERSE HALLA BOARD !!!!! A fantastic opportunity to help and make a difference for the community. All assistance is greatly appreciated. For further details please contact Giuseppina Caligiuri, HALLA Vice Chair at email Hallaassociation@gmail.com or telephone: 01224 498 164 / 07511377364.