As part of our increased focus on Wellbeing support for our local community, Black Prince Trust have developed some hugely beneficial partnerships of which we are very proud to support food distribution to those most in need of support in our local community.
In the current economic climate we see firsthand the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on people in our local community, making these partnerships and the services the enable us to provide more important and impactful than ever.
Community Fridge and Felix Project Partnership
The Black Prince Trust have since March 2022 received weekly food donations from Felix Project, who were set up to prevent fight food poverty, tackle hunger and save good food from going to waste.
BPT receive and sort the food deliveries – around 1,000-1,200kg per week, which is the equivalent of providing between 1,920 and 2,880 meals, or enough to feed 290 families for a single day. BPT sorts and redistributes everything we receive to our local community through our openly accessible community fridge and with extra deliveries across the borough.
Currently our Community Fridge opens every Wednesday and Friday following the Felix Project delivery. Deliveries vary based on what food is saved from going to waste. It can comprise anything from fresh fruit and veg to poultry, meat, fish or plant-based alternatives; as well as dry foods like pasta and rice or cereals and porridge oats. We also receive ready meals cooked by Felix Project chefs at their kitchen, providing healthy and tasty meals for our community.
Everyone who needs the support for whatever reason is welcomed with a smile and a food parcel suited to the needs of their household, with certain foods usually put aside for members of our community with known dietary requirements.
For more information or to be added to the WhatsApp Group to be alerted about availability of food on Wednesdays and Fridays contact bev@blackprincetrust.org.uk
Community Kitchen and Café and Share Community Partnership
At the start of 2023 we fully renovated our commercial kitchen and café space and embarked upon a new partnership with Share Community, a charity that provides specialist programmes and activities for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs.
Share’s aim is to help people live happier, healthier, and more independent lives, helping them to feel more included and valued in the community. In line with this mission Share’s kitchen and café programme at BPT provides wonderful opportunities for their students keen to cook and work in hospitality.
The partnership between BPT and Share was established from May 2023 to provide a fully operational kitchen and café space for Share to train students to cook, bake cakes and make barista-standard coffee. Share continues to welcome and embrace BPT daytime community groups including participants at Over 55 sessions and mental health intervention programmes who use the café for post-session tea and toast social get-togethers.
As the programme continues to develop, Share has started offering catering for on-site meetings and events for BPT, our partners, and external bookers. In time, Share will also provide cooked meals for participants at BPT holiday camps; and aim to open as a café to the general public providing reasonably priced lunches, cakes and hot beverages.
A significant aspect of Share’s service to our community is free meal provision: as students learn to batch cook, they are also packaging and labelling meals which are distributed both to BPT partners on site and other local organisations, and as a walk-in collection service to local residents.
Share and their students are cooking and distributing on average 700 meals per month to local residents most in need to help BPT’s fight against the cost-of-living crisis. Local residents can come to collect meals for their household any time between 11:30-15:30 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
For more information please drop in during the above hours or contact Share’s Food Hub Coordinator Phoebe Faulkner: phoebef@sharecommunity.org.uk
