About
The Food Hub at Stanmore Baptist Church (Food Hub) provides supermarket surplus on a first come first served basis, no referral required to anyone interested in taking practical action to reduce the use of landfill. By its very nature, the project has an impact on Food Insecurity by providing food at no cost to Guests. Unlike Food Banks, fresh fruit and vegetables are part of the offer. The Food Hub supports those affected by the Cost of Living Crisis but also allows anyone concerned about the Climate Emergency to take practical action to reduce the use of landfill, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Product and Services
The Food Hub opens its doors at 5:30PM on Thursdays and Guests get a number and Fairtrade Tea and Coffee on arrival. Workshops on a variety of topics are delivered from 5:45PM to 6:45PM. Food Distribution is from 7:00PM. Volunteers start from Wednesday night when they collect bakery surplus. On Thursday, volunteers start from 2:30PM when they receive and sort Supermarket surplus, remove all plastic bags from fruit and vegetables and get the tables ready for distribution at 7:00PM. Another volunteering opportunity has arisen at the Lion’s Community Urban Farm. This is an ideal opportunity to reduce social isolation through Garden Therapy. This activity will improve physical health, calm the nervous system, and protect the brain.A growing body of research shows Gardening is like a full-spectrum health intervention. It moves the body, exposes to sunlight, lowers stress hormones, sharpens thinking, and even shifts eating habits in a lasting way. What makes gardening unusual is how many systems it touches at once. Gardening blends physical activity, mental engagement, stress reduction, and lifestyle structure into a single routine.
Market
The Food Hub Community is diverse: families, single people of all ages from a variety of communities. An average of 30 Guests use the Food Hub every week served by an average of 20 Volunteers. Each week, about 50 people benefit directly and 100 indirectly as many collect for neighbours and those unable to attend in person. 2600 - 5200 benefit a year
Marketing and Publicity
Promotion is by word of mouth, leaflets, notices on Supermarket and Local Authority Notice Boards as well as Social Media. Press Releases are issued from time to time.
Competition
The Food Hub is unique in the immediate area as Food banks provide 3 days supply of tinned food and groceries following a referral from a GP or Social Worker on a limited basis. the Food Hub is available to anyone who attends without the need for a referral. A similar project, supported by the Lions, operates from South Harrow Methodist Church, several miles away.
SWOT Analysis
Strength - rooted in the Community Challenges - it operates from Church premises so needs to negotiate use of space with others. The uncertainty of food supply is the biggest challenge. Opportunities for growth & Impact - Volunteering opportunity is an area for growth and Community Involvement. Volunteers are needed particularly for pickups for which we do not always have notice. Large quantities of surplus can become available at short notice. This is an opportunity for us to develop a directory of Food Hubs so we can share products, reduce spoilage, use of landfill and deepen our positive impact.
Risks & Threats - There is a real risk that the success of Food Hubs in reaching vulnerable and marginalised communities will lead to a backlash from those who feel their spaces are being invaded. This could threaten survival and sustainability of the Food Hub and reduce its effectiveness by taking valuable volunteer time to deal with disruptions; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Reason For Applying_
Funding will allow us to organise a Team Building Away Day with Volunteers - this will strengthen the team and improve service delivery
Funding will also allow us to bring in a variety of Facilitators to increase the variety of Taster Workshops we can provide on a Thursday Evening
Funding will allow us to pilot the SBC English Club, a response to requests from Guests for functional English courses which would allow them to navigate GPs, Shops, the Council and the Job Market.
Staff and Management
Food Hub operates as an independent entity under Stanmore Baptist Church (SBC) which is a registered charity. SBC currently has 3 Trustees: Rev Anne Calver, Minister, Claire Ingate, Secretary & William Ohene, Treasurer. The Food Hub is coordinated by Elizabeth Nana Asante-Twumasi with a pool of 30 Volunteers, an average of 20 work each week. Key Team Members are Harry Johal, Masoumeh Lashgari, Derin Ogunsola, Gem Patel, Fatemeh Taj, Tanya Dennis, Nory Galeota, Samira Khalili, Priscilla Etsey, Vivian Katako, Elena Ollett, Ryan and Karen Sukhram
Notes
The Food Hub has been running for every a year and has become a vital part of the Community, meeting need in discrete way which preserves the dignity of vulnerable people in need but also allows those with a passion for Environmental Justice to take a practical stand in reducing their carbon footprint.
