Community Curry Night Success

Jade Madden • May 29, 2019

Community Hub, based in and run by Cargill-Burrelton Church, Woodside take on the 90kg Rice Challenge.

A very successful Community Curry Night hosted by the Community Hub team took place in the kirk hall at Cargill-Burrelton, Woodside on Friday 17th May.

With almost 80 guests dining on a variety of home cooked curries to suit everyone’s tastes, the Community Hub more than met their goal of funding their purchase of Fairtrade rice for the “90kg Rice Challenge” and raising money for their next project.

The Community Hub bought 90kg of Fair Trade rice from Just Trading Scotland’s “Rice Challenge”; this is the amount of rice a farmer in Malawi has to sell to pay for a child to go to secondary school for a year. By selling on the rice, the Community Hub planned to cover their costs before embarking on their next planned project. An anonymous donor however has paid for the rice in its entirety, and the proceeds from the Community Curry Night and all rice sales will now go towards the purchase of a defibrillator for Burrelton and Woodside villages.

Ian Riches, Treasurer for the Community Hub, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the night was such a huge success. Following the recent upgrades to our kitchen, including the purchase of a new induction hob and double oven thanks to a grant from the Perth and Kinross Community Investment Fund, we can now cater for events just like these.

“With donations still coming in, and thanks to the donor who very generously paid in full for the rice we bought, we have raised over £600 to go towards funding a defibrillator which we believe is vital in our growing village.”

Lynne Mitchell, Youth and Community Worker at the Hub said: “We had a great night and there was a fabulous atmosphere; it was so lovely to see folks having the opportunity to meet, eat, and enjoy each other’s company. Our Community Café on Tuesday lunch times has been going from strength to strength and through events like these the Community Hub aims to provide a welcoming, friendly environment where old and new friends of all ages can meet.

“We regularly hear that people can feel isolated, even within small communities, perhaps because of the changes in society and in the shops and services available. The Community Hub team aim to combat loneliness and isolation whilst also encouraging a feeling of community and connection between people. We are always delighted to welcome folk to our café and events and look forward to building on the curry night’s success in the future.”

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A woman standing at church fair trade stall with lots of delicious fair trade products available

How to Run a True Origin Fair Trade Stall at Your Church

By Nicola Taylor • July 3, 2026

A Fair Trade stall is about so much more than selling tea, coffee and chocolate. Every purchase supports smallholder farmers and producers who are working incredibly hard to build sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change, rising fuel costs and an unpredictable global market. For many of the communities we work with, having reliable customers is essential. By running a True Origin stall at your church, you become part of that support network, helping to create regular demand for products that often aren't available in supermarkets or high street shops. Whether your church is passionate about global justice, caring for creation or simply making a practical difference, a Fair Trade stall is a simple but powerful way to turn those values into action. Start Small You don't need a huge team or a large budget to get started. Begin by talking with your church leaders about the idea. Many churches are happy to provide a small loan or donation to purchase initial stock, particularly if it can be repaid gradually as sales grow. Remember that most of the income from a stall is best reinvested into buying more stock rather than raising money for church funds. This helps keep the stall sustainable and ensures producers continue to receive orders. If you're new to running a stall, don't worry, you won't be on your own. The True Origin team and experienced Fair Traders are always happy to share advice and practical tips.