Getir Bethnal Green

Edible London was formed over 5 years ago but registered in (March 2018) as a community interest company working within and around the surrounding area of the London Borough of Haringey. We believe in win-win dynamics… in sharing… in collaborating…in creating structures built on empathy and abundance. Our goal is to help those in the community who suffer from food poverty to eat a more nutritious diet and, in turn, learn to feed their community through food growing. Created as a coming-together of a diverse, determined and committed crew of local individuals, all working toward an inspiring goal. Planned a brighter future for not only the Wolves Lane Horticultural Centre but also for the local community and those disenfranchised and disconnected with those living around them; all centred around horticulture and community spirit. The idea of food growing bringing people together and closer to the natural world in general, within the geographical location it is situated. Haringey is deeply affected by many issues that you would expect to find in an area with high levels of economic inequality. Food poverty, social isolation, crime, a disenfranchised youth, high levels of this, offsets the relentless march of gentrification, pushing aside individuals and families on lower incomes who have been an integral part of this area for many years and even generations. OUR AMBITION AND LONG-TERM GOALS - To increase our offering to those in the community who suffer from food poverty. - To allow everybody to eat a more nutritious diet, to educate them and allow them to educate others and, in turn, learn to feed their community through food growing and better food education. - To support the local and wider community by providing them with the education and opportunity to support themselves and those in need by growing and getting involved with the process of growing and producing organic sustainable food.

Since 2010 our Storehouse food bank has served over 50,000 free meals to local people in Hackney needing food support. This includes the homeless, working people on low income, the unemployed, people with disabilities and long-term health conditions (including mental health, autistic spectrum, learning disabilities) families, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, veterens, ex-prisoners, older people, the marginalised , lonely isolated, and struggling with substance misuse. The food we provide comes through donations from three Tesco stores, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Aldi and cooked food from three local Caribbean restaurants. There are three main volunteering roles 1: Kitchen: Volunteers will be packing the cooked food from the Caribbean restaurants (curry goat, jerk chicken, rice and peas etc) into individual takeaway containers. There will also be general cleaning and washing up. 2: Food and clothing bank: Volunteers will be setting up tables in the hall to display ambient and fresh food donations which range from milk, tinned food, fruit and Vegetables, cereals, the Caribbean food, toiletries etc, and clothing Your role would also involve portioning and repackaging food into food bags and serving our service users. There are also food parcels to be put together and delivered to older people on foot who live nearby. Volunteers may also prepare and serve refreshments (hot and cold drinks, biscuits and cakes). There will also be general cleaning and moving tables so that the hall is ready for other groups to use. Kitchen and Food Bank Volunteers will need to arrive for 10.30am and stay until 12.30pm Sundays only. 3: Volunteer Drivers: needed for pick up slots between 08.00 to 11:00 on Sundays to collect food donations from different supermarket stores and Caribbean restaurants located in Hackney and Bethnal Green. We will provide verification for drivers to show staff when making food collections. Volunteers will have access to go in the stores to collect the food even when the stores are closed to the public. The volunteer drivers will know by Saturday evening where they will be going to collect the food for the Sunday morning. Once the food is collected it will then be brought to the hall to be sorted and the driver stay to give out the food to our service users. Storehouse welcomes corporate and other groups wishing to volunteer as a one-off or on a regular basis. Storehouse also offers volunteering opportunities to young people aged 14-24 including those completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This volunteering role requires a good command of English. The benefits of volunteering are that you will enhance your sense of self-worth. It can also be added to your CV to improve your employment prospects. After 3 months of continuous volunteering Storehouse can provide references for you. Volunteers are welcome to refreshments while they are volunteering and can access food/clothing bank items at the discretion of the management.

Please, if you have any items you are able to donate to assist the scheme, please do get in contact. We appreciate any items which are useful and in decent condition, and some items the young people could really benefit from are: - Toiletry packs (shower sets, bath sets, towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, etc.) - Professional clothing or shoes - Clothes Hangers - Food Hampers - Dishes and cutlery - Document folders/dividers - Other essentials. During this season, it would help if you have any items which would bring a bit more joy to the young people: - Xbox 360 games or controllers (as someone kindly donated an old system a few months ago). - Xbox 360 slim hard drive (as someone kindly donated an Xbox; however, the hard drive was fried). - Movies - Art supplies (anything goes, even therapeutic colouring books) - Musical instruments - Workout equipment - Board games - Any other items you feel the age group would appreciate