Get Growing with Grounded

As the winter draws in, we thought we would try something different! The Social Canteen is a new way of eating, piloted by Grounded Community supported by Dorset Community Foundation and the BCP Food Support Fund. We also joined forces with Bournemouth Food Bank, for this undertaking, who provided their brand-new facilities at their recently launched Miracle Community Café in Boscombe.

Grounded Community Charity has been working with the Food Bank at the venue in Haviland Road for some time, ensuring people get food when needed. A surplus food box runs daily, which feeds hundreds of people each week, whilst Foodbank run a massive operation from the Boscombe venue.

The new facilities include a state-ofthe-art commercial kitchen and training room, stylish conference room facilities and a new kitchen as well as the new café due to open soon. For more info, check out @miraclecafe.bmth on Instagram.

The Social Canteen was the first to use the space alongside Grounded Community’s ‘Gatherers’, who meet in the space weekly to chop, preserve, cook and make meals from food surplus. The event, in half term, was an exciting 4-day food event bringing local people together to eat well, socialise and support the planet. This pilot is hoped to be the first of many Social Canteens that eat weekly across BCP.

In this time of food insecurity, high energy prices and isolation, it makes sense to eat together. Eating together has also been shown to improve our mental health - the more often we eat with others, the more likely we are to feel happy and satisfied with our lives.

The Social Canteen is for EVERYONE, irrespective of background or social situation, but it can also help households struggling through difficult financial times.

Over 350 people turned out and received a warm meal and welcome over 4 nights. Over 40 volunteers helped deliver this as well as 3 paid chefs to create 2/3 course meals each evening, Takeaway was also available and the whole concept is set to ‘change the way we eat’. Local community workers really supported the efforts.

Eating together also has the added bonus of reducing waste caused by cooking alone and reduces energy bills. For £1-4 per head this is a super cheap way to feed yourself and your family. Where else could you get a 2-course meal for £2 a head! The Social Canteen chefs produce delicious meals out of surplus foods and garden gluts from our local area, meaning we also intercept food that would otherwise go in the bin! Vegan and children’s options and local venison were on the menu.

Look out for future Social Canteens and this concept roles out across the conurbation in the new year. The team are also offering a PDF pack so if you want to start a Social Canteen in your area you can get in touch for some support!

Info@groundedcommunity.co.uk or to join in the fun contact volunteer@groundedcommunity.co.uk.

To find out more about Bournemouth Foodbank’s projects, new spaces and how to book them, please visit www.thegardenbournemouth.org or email hello@thegardenbournemouth.org and also www.groundedcommunity.co.uk