Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) newly established Community Marketing Fund, a £50,000 initiative to support the promotion of red meat brands within Scotland, significantly contributed to a successful fundraising lunch for The Usual Place in Dumfries on Sunday, 11 August 2024.
This event not only celebrated the exceptional quality of Scotch Beef but also highlighted the commendable efforts of The Usual Place, a registered charity in Scotland.
Held at The Usual Place café, the lunch was attended by 60 guests who enjoyed a fine dining experience under the expert guidance of Fraser Cameron, head chef at The Globe Inn.
The event raised over £4,000 for The Usual Place, which empowers young people with disabilities by providing training and qualifications for employment in the hospitality sector.
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Situated in the heart of Dumfries, The Usual Place offers a unique environment where young people with disabilities gain practical experience and qualifications in hospitality.
With over 70% of its staff having disabilities, the event showcased their skills and determination.
The lunch featured a three-course meal prepared and served by The Usual Place staff, with guidance from Jonathan Brett and Fraser Cameron, alongside live entertainment, a raffle, and an auction.
Gordon Newlands, Brands Development Manager at QMS, attended the lunch and commented: “Dumfries and Galloway has a rich heritage of primary food producers, whether on land or sea, so it seemed fitting to support our stakeholders in this region.
“It’s truly inspiring to witness the passion and dedication of the young people at The Usual Place. We are thrilled to contribute to such a worthy cause and to provide access to our wonderful brands.
“The event not only raised awareness about the quality of local produce but also provided invaluable experience to the students at The Usual Place, offering them insights into fine dining and the skills necessary to help them to thrive in the hospitality industry.
“The Community Marketing Fund is deliberately open to a wide and diverse mix of activities and locations that support education and promotion of our red meat brands – interested parties can access the simple application form on our website.”
Emma Heath, QMS’s Marketing Director, said: “New to 2024, our Community Marketing Fund is about making it simple for people to access the support they might need to promote our red meat brands within their communities.
“Whether it’s providing aprons for a charity cook-off, funding a local sponsorship or supplying Scotch Beef for a special event like the one hosted at The Usual Place, we will carefully consider all approaches for funding that we receive.”
QMS played a crucial role by supplying Scotch Beef fillets for training sessions, where participants learned to prepare Scotch Beef Wellingtons, earning rave reviews from attendees.
QMS encourages those passionate about promoting Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, or Specially Selected Pork to apply to the Community Marketing Fund, with applications reviewed on an ongoing basis.
For more information and to apply for the QMS Community Marketing Fund, visit the QMS Community Marketing Fund Application.
