Thursday June 25th 2026
Mark Wells, Trusted Partner - Food Facts Friends; Natalie Burnside, Midlothian Community Diners Coordinator - Midlothian Community Action; Councillor Kelly Parry, Midlothian Council Leader; Mhairi Barrett, Trusted Partner - Gorebridge Cares; Diane Brown, Trusted Partner - Hawthorn Family Learning Centre; Lesley Kelly, Chief Officer - Midlothian Community Action; John Bell, Trusted Partner & Community Researcher - One Dalkeith; Jade Somerville, Trusted Partner - One Dalkeith (photo by Alan Somerville at Somerville Productions)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
More than 1,000 residents have taken part in Midlothian’s community diners pilot, with nine local diners now set to continue as the project moves into its next phase.
The diners, which provide affordable meals and a space for families to connect, supported 1,029 people between December 2025 and May 2026.
Most attendees (81%) were from families which could be at risk of child poverty, showing the ongoing need for cost of living support across Midlothian
The community diners project is delivered in partnership with Midlothian Council, Midlothian Community Action, other local third sector organisations and NHS Lothian Public Health.
The pilot was overseen by Midlothian Community Action, delivered through ten local community partners and offered 70 dining events across Midlothian.
The community diners brought people together to enjoy nutritious food, meet others and access practical advice and support from services including Citizens Advice, Changeworks, and Communities, Lifelong Learning and Employability (CLLE).
Feedback provided shows the impact the diners had with many people saying they felt less isolated, less stressed and more connected to their community. Around 93% of attendees said they would come back for a future meal.
The project also helped people access wider support, with more than 100 advice conversations and 18 referrals for additional help.
Building on the pilot, funding has now been secured by Midlothian Council to continue the project through to 2028. This includes support from the Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund and a further £70,000 from the Fairer Futures Adopt and Adapt Programme for 2026/27.
Nine of the ten pilot partners will continue delivering community meals. The next phase will include additional sessions during school holidays, closer links to local support services and more activities for children and young people.
Community Diners have started up again already at:
– One Dalkeith
– Penicuik Storehouse
– Mayfield and Easthouses Development Trust
– Hawthorn Family Learning Centre
Additional community diners will also be located at:
– Newtongrange Development Trust
– Food Facts Friends Penicuik
– One Youth Dalkeith – delivered by Midlothian Youth Platform
– Gorebridge Community Cares
– Midlothian Muslim Community Centre
The diner previously delivered at Woodburn Community Hub will not be part of phase 2 of the project due to capacity limits, however partners are continuing to look at options to bring community meals back to the Woodburn area.
A celebration event held in June 2026 brought together community partners, support services and council representatives to recognise the pilot’s achievements and mark the start of the next stage.
Residents can find their nearest community diner and opening times at [insert link] or by visiting their local community venue. Diners are open to residents, with affordable meals available and children eating free at many locations.
Natalie Burnside, Community Diners Project Coordinator, said:
“The pilot has shown the power of bringing people together around a shared meal in a welcoming and dignified environment. Community Diners are about much more than food – they help families build connections, access support and feel part of their community. We are delighted that funding has been secured to continue and grow this work across Midlothian.”
Councillor Kelly Parry, Leader of Midlothian Council and Chair of the Cost of Living Taskforce, said:
“We know that many families are still feeling the pressure of rising food and household costs.
“The response to our community diners shows just how important it is to have welcoming, local spaces where people can enjoy a hot meal at an affordable price and feel part of their community.
“I’m pleased that, working with our partners, we are able to build on what we have learned from the pilot and continue this support for families across Midlothian over the coming years.”
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