Food and Friendship

Through cooking and eating together we help people to form new friendships and build stronger communities.

Cooking

Sharing food together is a traditional way for people to socialise and make friends. Many people living alone rarely share a meal with anyone else. Our Food and Friendship project offers people the opportunity to share community meals and other celebrations.

The project seeks to reduce loneliness and isolation in our communities, and to address food insecurity. Using the five steps to wellbeing (connect, be active, learn new skills, give to others, and be mindful) our project aims to significantly contribute to people’s health and wellbeing, and improve their nutritional intake. This will be achieved by encouraging the use of surplus food, sharing knowledge and skills around cooking low cost meals and (where there are local opportunities) supporting people to grow food, even if it’s on a small scale e.g. herbs.

The meals and celebrations can also include a range of activities – arts and crafts, games and entertainment as well as opportunities to share skills and experiences. At the heart of the Food and Friendship Project will be opportunities to include older people who are isolated and bring them together with families and young people.

Over the next two years, using an Asset Based Community Development approach, the project will aim to develop new and existing opportunities to bring people together around food and activities in local communities. If you would like to find out more, please contact Julie McGee.