Welcome
Welcome to our summer newsletter!
I hope that you have been as buoyed as I have been with the wonderful sunshine we’ve had across the UK in these recent weeks. It’s incredible the impact sunshine can have on one’s outlook, encouraging joy with the promise of more to come as all creation seems to be waking up and bursting forth with vibrancy and colour.
Despite this optimistic hope I have for the future I clearly can’t deny the incredibly challenging times we find ourselves in; both individually and collectively. As a charity we are finding ourselves squeezed from every side at a time when there is greater demand for our services. And yet as we continue to respond to the needs of those we walk alongside in communities at home and around the world we are humbled by the faithful generosity of our wider Signpost family, of you, enabling us to do more, to see the ripple effects of our collective projects impact more lives now and into the future. So, thank you!
-Jamie Morrison
Chief Executive
International Round-up
As we mark the halfway point of 2025, we continue to work with our international partners to address the needs of communities overseas, from access to safe water and sanitation, sufficient nutritious food, and opportunities to earn a sustainable income.
With sustainability at the heart of everything we do, we are proud to play a role in supporting people to take action on their terms, and in ways that work for their communities.
In April, our Chief Executive Jamie spent ten days in Kenya visiting communities in West Pokot County and seeing first-hand the transformation occurring in the lives of many hundreds of people there…
Read More…
Local Impact
Closer to home, we continue to make a meaningful difference across communities in Scotland – building skills and raising awareness around food waste, and empowering individuals and families to take sustainable steps toward a better future.
It’s a genuine privilege to witness children, young people and families discover that even the smallest everyday changes can create a global ripple effect.
Books Help Kids
Explore New Foods
Since our last update, we’ve launched an innovative partnership with the National Literacy Trust, starting with a six-week block of food-based activities with children from Quarry View Nursery in Dundee, alongside their parents or carers.
The sessions combined hands-on cooking lessons with interactive nutrition-based games and activities, with families exploring a variety of new foods while mastering basic skills such as mixing, measuring and kitchen safety.
While their meals were cooking, children enjoyed a food-based story time with Jenni Leigh, Manager at the National Literacy Trust in Dundee, with books gifted to the families to enjoy at home.
And talking of food, fun and education, we’re busy preparing our summer programme – watch this space!
This Lent, we launched our “Don’t Dump it, Dish it” campaign — encouraging people to cut down on food waste, reduce their household food bills, and take simple steps to care for our planet.
Food waste is responsible for 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, so tackling it is a crucial part of addressing climate change. Our campaign focused on sharing practical tips for smarter shopping, meal planning, and making the most of leftovers — small actions that can make a big difference.
Here’s what we achieved together:
- Reached 14,000+ people across social media
- Raised over £5,000 to fund food and sustainability projects
- Created 1,500+ meals from surplus food that would have gone to waste
- Prevented nearly 2,000kg of harmful greenhouse gases from being released
These meals not only helped reduce emissions but also supported local communities with nutritious food that may have otherwise been discarded. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who got involved — by donating, sharing the message, or putting the tips into action at home.
And a special thank you to AVIVA, whose generous match funding of online donations helped double the campaign’s impact.
Let’s carry this momentum forward — and keep dishing it, not dumping it.
Charity Begins
in the Classroom
Meanwhile, we have also been supporting aspiring teachers in discovering new approaches to help children become responsible citizens. Nearly 30 third-year Education students from the University of Dundee visited The Roundhouse to explore creative ways of teaching ‘big issue’ topics that span multiple areas of the curriculum
Inspired by their visit, the students will now go on to design a project that they could run in a primary school. They are also in the early stages of planning fundraising to support our work to install a borehole in an East African community to enable more girls to access primary education. We even made it into The Scotsman!
Read More…
Feeding bellies, not bins
Last but by no means least, our work dedicated to improving diet and nutrition while reducing food waste is set to expand, thanks to a generous grant from NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation.
As many of you will know, we collect surplus food from supermarkets, greengrocers, bakers, and allotments, transforming it into nutritious frozen meals, which are distributed to those in need.
Through a range of activities, we also work with community members, meal recipients, school pupils and young people to build their confidence, skills and understanding of growing, preserving and cooking fresh and nutritious foods. The £80,000 grant, which we are exceptionally grateful for, will help our chefs boost meal production from 300 to 1,000 per week!In the latest in our new series of team profiles, we are proud to introduce you to the people behind our charity, who work tirelessly to help us make a difference
Please meet David Baker, our Operations and Facilities Manager.
What led you to Signpost International?
What’s your role with the charity?
“My main role is to look after the fabric and maintenance of the charity’s home in Dundee, The Roundhouse, including the community garden and IT requirements. Essentially, I ensure our facilities are well-maintained and in optimal condition. It’s my responsibility to ensure that the produce we grow can be used in our food projects. I also look after our tenants, as a few other charities work alongside us.”
What do you love best?
“For me, the people are the best part of Signpost International. However, I also love the satisfaction and sense of achievement that comes with fixing something that’s broken or making something better, even if it’s just upgrading a part of the building or a function within it. After all, by ensuring The Roundhouse is as it should be, I’m helping make the charity fulfil its potential.”
While David clearly loves his role, he will retire from the charity this summer, focusing on another role seeing new churches and mission projects launched across Scotland. We all wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement.
Before We Go
