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Projects
Community Cooking
Our cooking workshops are designed to provide a welcoming, safe and enjoyable environment to meet new people, learn some skills and make delicious food . On Tuesdays we run a "take home tea" workshop, making tasty, nutritious meals using fresh ingredients. Join us at The Community Hub, 34 Havelock St, Thornaby, TS17 6HN 12.30pm-2pm (term time)
On Thursdays we run a community day at Arlington Park, Adderley Street, Stockton, TS18 3GT 10am-12pm , where people can get involved in growing, cooking and shopping.
On Thursdays we run a community day at Arlington Park, Adderley Street, Stockton, TS18 3GT 10am-12pm , where people can get involved in growing, cooking and shopping.
Challenge Anneka
Teesside had a starring role on TV screens as the remake of 1990s hit show Challenge Anneka aired May 2023.
"Sprouts" saw star Anneka Rice and her team help out a charity food hub which had outgrown its modest town centre location in Stockton. Anneka set about transforming a neighbourhood hall, from a run-down creaking building into a new hub with its own cafe, teaching kitchen, food bank and storage facility for their equipment for community activities.
"Sprouts" saw star Anneka Rice and her team help out a charity food hub which had outgrown its modest town centre location in Stockton. Anneka set about transforming a neighbourhood hall, from a run-down creaking building into a new hub with its own cafe, teaching kitchen, food bank and storage facility for their equipment for community activities.
Community Shop
The community shop provides low cost, good quality food, essentials, clothes and electrical items.
We reduce landfill by collecting surplus food from local supermarkets to provide for free in our non-judgemental ‘no referral needed’ community shop.
We also take donations of clothes, bedding, bric-a-brac and small pieces of furniture and electrical items.
Working closely with social prescribers, housing and welfare services, health visitors and social workers, mental health and drug and alcohol services, schools and colleges, often acting as a triage service whilst people wait for contact / appointments.
We reduce landfill by collecting surplus food from local supermarkets to provide for free in our non-judgemental ‘no referral needed’ community shop.
We also take donations of clothes, bedding, bric-a-brac and small pieces of furniture and electrical items.
Working closely with social prescribers, housing and welfare services, health visitors and social workers, mental health and drug and alcohol services, schools and colleges, often acting as a triage service whilst people wait for contact / appointments.
Stockton Food Power Network
The Stockton-on-Tees Food Power Network is a network of over 45 local organisations including foodbanks, community pantries, ecoshops, charities and local businesses. We work with Stockton Borough Council and the local VCSE sector. We work together to:
Promote and produce healthy and sustainable food
Fight food waste and reduce the ecological footprint of the food system
Build community knowledge (cooking and growing skills, etc.)
Help improve resilience and financial stability
Promote local produce
Change how food is procured locally
Promote and produce healthy and sustainable food
Fight food waste and reduce the ecological footprint of the food system
Build community knowledge (cooking and growing skills, etc.)
Help improve resilience and financial stability
Promote local produce
Change how food is procured locally
Victoria Park cafe
The community café provides nutritious, affordable meals, allowing people to socialise, in a lovely environment, not previously been available in the area. The café is in the local park (which has had a recent refit) and it very popular with local families. The café also provides volunteer opportunities for those furthest from the job market or those with learning disabilities, who may not otherwise be able to gain experience in this area.
Community Garden
The community garden, (corner of Peel St and Cromwell terrace) has given the local community a sense of community by bringing people together. We have created opportunities for neighbours to interact, collaborate, and build strong social ties by providing a space for people from diverse backgrounds to share cultural practices, foods, and traditions.
The garden also gives us the opportunity to serve as an outdoor classroom where people of all ages learn about where our food comes from and how best to cook with it.
The garden is an amazing environment to improve physical and mental health, helping to increase physical activity and reduce anxiety, stress and depression.
Mondays 1-3pm (term time)
The garden also gives us the opportunity to serve as an outdoor classroom where people of all ages learn about where our food comes from and how best to cook with it.
The garden is an amazing environment to improve physical and mental health, helping to increase physical activity and reduce anxiety, stress and depression.
Mondays 1-3pm (term time)
Mobile Cooking Workshops
Using our mobile ovens and equipment, we can offer cooking workshops at most venues. More recently we have been working in partnership with The Big Local Roseworth, cooking with their residents on a Wednesday evening and have received the following positive feedback :
The Casserole Club
Have you enjoyed the sessions? If so, what have you enjoyed most?
Been a really friendly group – everyone being made to feel welcome.
Really enjoyed the new experience.
The best thing has been the comradery.
Learning to cook more and having variety.
Really friendly group.
Really enjoyed it.
What have we done well?
Diversity in meals- lots of different things that I wouldn’t think to cook at home.
Diversity in the group of people all coming together and variety of ages.
Made sure everyone feels relaxed enough to be themselves and recipes have been great. Curry
was beautiful and instruction have been easy to follow with great support while doing them.
Been great having healthy options to cook too.
Enjoyed being out of the house cooking and learning a new skill – really enjoying cooking.
What could we have done better?
Can’t think of anything is has been absolutely wonderful.
Longer course.
Give a list of things that people can vote for what to make.
Everything has been lovely, and everyone has been so helpful.
Nothing.
Been great.
What has been your favourite dish to make so far?
Curry
Vegetable curry
The Mexican food and was my first-time trying guacamole. Loved the salsa too.
Cookies dough
The curry
Curry last week.
Did you find the time for the session worked well? If not, what time would be better?
Yes fine.
Yes, smashing and flies over.
Yes – was a change for me as I don’t usually like being out on an evening but was out of my
comfort zone at first but now quite enjoy it.
Fine.
Yes-great.
Fine.
The Casserole Club
Have you enjoyed the sessions? If so, what have you enjoyed most?
Been a really friendly group – everyone being made to feel welcome.
Really enjoyed the new experience.
The best thing has been the comradery.
Learning to cook more and having variety.
Really friendly group.
Really enjoyed it.
What have we done well?
Diversity in meals- lots of different things that I wouldn’t think to cook at home.
Diversity in the group of people all coming together and variety of ages.
Made sure everyone feels relaxed enough to be themselves and recipes have been great. Curry
was beautiful and instruction have been easy to follow with great support while doing them.
Been great having healthy options to cook too.
Enjoyed being out of the house cooking and learning a new skill – really enjoying cooking.
What could we have done better?
Can’t think of anything is has been absolutely wonderful.
Longer course.
Give a list of things that people can vote for what to make.
Everything has been lovely, and everyone has been so helpful.
Nothing.
Been great.
What has been your favourite dish to make so far?
Curry
Vegetable curry
The Mexican food and was my first-time trying guacamole. Loved the salsa too.
Cookies dough
The curry
Curry last week.
Did you find the time for the session worked well? If not, what time would be better?
Yes fine.
Yes, smashing and flies over.
Yes – was a change for me as I don’t usually like being out on an evening but was out of my
comfort zone at first but now quite enjoy it.
Fine.
Yes-great.
Fine.
The Kings Award for Voluntary Service
Volunteering is a commitment, a demonstration of selflessness, and a testament to the power of community. Each and every one of you, who have volunteered your time, expertise, and resources has played an invaluable role in shaping our community for the better.
For our projects to have the impact they do, we are completely reliant on an amazing group of volunteers, who week in week out help run our community shops, café and garden projects, donating over 90 hours each and every week. Our work is demanding, challenging, let alone exhausting, yet you all work tirelessly with compassion, and unwavering commitment. Your actions have touched hearts, inspired change, and brought hope to those who need it most.
Receiving the King's Award for Voluntary Services is a testament to your unwavering dedication and outstanding contributions to our community. This prestigious recognition is not just an acknowledgment of your efforts; it is a symbol of the immense respect and admiration we hold for you, you've poured your hearts and souls into making our community better. You are the true heroes and we can't thank you enough.
Congratulations to each and every one of you on this well-deserved honour.
For our projects to have the impact they do, we are completely reliant on an amazing group of volunteers, who week in week out help run our community shops, café and garden projects, donating over 90 hours each and every week. Our work is demanding, challenging, let alone exhausting, yet you all work tirelessly with compassion, and unwavering commitment. Your actions have touched hearts, inspired change, and brought hope to those who need it most.
Receiving the King's Award for Voluntary Services is a testament to your unwavering dedication and outstanding contributions to our community. This prestigious recognition is not just an acknowledgment of your efforts; it is a symbol of the immense respect and admiration we hold for you, you've poured your hearts and souls into making our community better. You are the true heroes and we can't thank you enough.
Congratulations to each and every one of you on this well-deserved honour.
Cooking with Kids
Working with various partners throughout the borough, eg Eastern Ravens, The Junction, Five Lamps, Corner House Youth project, we are able to capture the young peoples enthusiasm for cooking and creating meals for them and their families to enjoy.
Cooking with children is a multifaceted activity that nurtures a wide range of skills and benefits.
It is an enriching experience that supports their development in numerous ways.
Educational Benefits
Emotional and Social Benefits
Confidence and Independence
Communication Skills
Health and Nutrition Benefits
Healthy Eating Habits
Appreciation for Homemade Food
Life Skills &
Basic Cooking Skills
Time Management
Responsibility
Sensory and Motor Skills Development
Fine Motor Skills
Creativity imagination
Cultural Awareness
Cooking with children is a multifaceted activity that nurtures a wide range of skills and benefits.
It is an enriching experience that supports their development in numerous ways.
Educational Benefits
Emotional and Social Benefits
Confidence and Independence
Communication Skills
Health and Nutrition Benefits
Healthy Eating Habits
Appreciation for Homemade Food
Life Skills &
Basic Cooking Skills
Time Management
Responsibility
Sensory and Motor Skills Development
Fine Motor Skills
Creativity imagination
Cultural Awareness
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