A NEW retail outlet is helping young people turn the food they’ve grown into produce they can sell.

The Leaven Deli in Newby Court, Peebles, opened in April is the latest project to be spearheaded by PeeblesCAN, a social enterprise created in 2011.

Established through a crowdfunding appeal and local investment, the deli is already proving a hit with customers who have been enjoying fresh homemade bread, soups, sandwiches and cakes made on site by the 12-strong team of staff and volunteers.

Next month, the outlet, which opened in April, will launch a sandwich delivery bike service.

Sophia Nicholson, PeeblesCAN’s food co-ordinator, said: “Since we started four years ago, our Climate Challenge Fund projects - the community garden, local food market and food waste project - have all been very successful.

“We also run a youth enterprise project which, thanks to funding from Community Jobs Scotland [CJS], has allowed us to employ five young people.

“Earlier this year we decided a deli would help us generate an income to keep the youth project running, and it, too, has been a great success.

“We take what we grow and turn it into something we can sell to generate an income.

“One of our CJS placements is now heading to Edinburgh to undertake a placement in the kitchen of a leading hotel after the head chef spotted his pastry skills in our deli. These are the opportunities we want to continue to create and the deli will allow us to do just that.” “We’re running a business now, which is very different to operating a funded project.” Sophia acknowledges the support the Leaven Deli project has received from Business Gateway Scottish Borders whose adviser Annie Watt told us: “We were able to share our experience and knowledge of similar projects, provide guidance, and a fresh perspective.

“We signposted and connected the project to potential funders, existing social entrepreneurs and support organisations for the sector.

“We are currently supporting The Deli in developing its market and its website.” As well as stocking produce made on site, the deli offers a wide range of products made locally, including macaroons crafted by a Peebles mum and sauces made in the kitchen of The Restaurant & The Larder in Kailzie Gardens.

“Although we have a focus on young people, our volunteers are all ages,” said Sophia. “We have 15-year-olds working towards their Saltire Awards, full-time mums building their confidence in the workplace and older people who are just looking for some companionship.

“We also run family volunteering sessions in our garden each Tuesday where toddlers and their carers come along to plant, grow and take home produce to cook. We don’t turn anyone away who wants to get involved in our work, we see where their skills fit and make a place for them.” For more information on PeeblesCAN visit www.peeblescan.org, and to find out more about Leaven Deli, which is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 9am to 5pm, go to http://bit.ly/LeavenDeliFacebook