Education United Kingdom Project #43815

Stop 300 children from going hungry in London

by Be Enriched

Project Report | Dec 20, 2024
Merry Christmas and a Heartfelt Thank you!

By Georgia Wright | Media and Comms Manager

Dear friends and supporters of Be Enriched,

As we get ready to wrap up 2024, we want to take a moment to say thank you for all your support this year. Whether you’ve donated, funded, volunteered, or cheered us on, you’ve played a vital role in helping us bring people together through food and save precious food from going to landfill.

As a token of our appreciation, we would love to gift you a limited-edition print featuring a special thank you message. Please find it attached! This is a small way to show how much your generosity means to us and to all those we support. If you can’t see the attachment, you can also view your E-Christmas Card here: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGZvcNP0Sg/FD4XGDE1PwBqwScXpdoTXA/view?utm_content=DAGZvcNP0Sg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h279340f239

This year, together, we:

Served thousands of meals through our Community Canteens.
Welcomed 2395 customers onto our Food Bus and Float.
Saved over 6 tonnes of food from being wasted.
Hosted 114 at our Kids Clubs.
Provided warmth, joy, and connection to thousands of people who needed it most.

Your generosity has made it possible for us to spread hope and make a tangible difference in South London. This December, as we prepare to serve over 2,700 meals and host special Christmas events, we’re reminded that none of this would be possible without you.

From everyone here at Be Enriched, we wish you a Merry Christmas filled with joy, love, and plenty of good food!

Thank you for being part of our journey to make South London a better, brighter place for all!

Attachments:

Merry_Christmas_From_Be_Enriched..pdf (PDF)

1 Attachment

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Oct 9, 2024
Celebrating Summer at Be Enriched - Keep Our Kids Clubs Going

By Georgia Wright | Media and Comms Manager

As Winter fast approaches, we're taking the time to reflect on Summer at Be Enriched. We are proud to celebrate the success of our Holiday Kid’s Club with The Food Bus team, part of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme. This year’s summer programme was packed with exciting activities and healthy, educational workshops designed to keep children engaged, learning, and well-nourished during the school holidays.

Hands-on Workshops and Creative Cooking

This summer, 50 places were filled as children took part in our workshops, took home an average of 15 takeaway boxes per session filled with yummy, nutritious food. From crafting delicious oat banana pancakes, to making their own quesadillas with guacamole, and freshly squeezed orange juice, the children had a chance to explore new recipes and tastes.

One of the summer’s highlights was the peach and strawberry crumble workshop, where kids learned to create a sweet treat from scratch. They also prepared potato wedges with a homemade, healthy ketchup. Other activities included making veggie pasta bake, learning to cook Korean veggie pancakes and whipping up healthy oat chocolate chip cookies and veggie frittatas. The children even crafted their own pizza dough from scratch, adding their favourite toppings before baking and eating.

You can donate to support our kids clubs here.

The Importance of HAF Funding

Since its launch in 2018, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme has been a lifeline for many families, offering much-needed support during the school holidays. It ensures that children who rely on free school meals during term time don’t go without proper nutrition when school is out. However, the future of HAF funding remains uncertain, making it more important than ever to spotlight the significance of these school holiday provisions.

Research shows that school holidays can be challenging for many families, with some children from low-income households missing out on activities and healthy meals. The HAF programme helps to bridge this gap by funding free holiday clubs that offer nutritious food, educational activities, and a sense of community.

Positive Feedback from Parents

We were thrilled to receive positive feedback from parents about our summer holiday kids clubs. Two parents highlighted their satisfaction with our simple booking system, the range of activities, and the organisation of the sessions. They were also impressed with the quality of the venue and facilities provided.

“We really enjoyed the cooking and arts and crafts sessions.”

“These cooking activities are always awesome, and not only do we always cook something we haven’t tried before, but my child always learns a new skill, which is amazing. So, as for us, the activities so far are perfect.”

More Than Food

Our holiday provisions do more than just fill bellies; they foster a sense of belonging and help children build friendships and social skills. Through cooking workshops and physical activities, we empower children to make healthy choices that extend beyond the summer holidays.

Simon, our Food Bus Manager, noted the positive impact:

"It’s fantastic to see the kids learning new skills, staying active, and enjoying nutritious meals. The combination of food and fun makes this programme so special, and it’s great to see the community come together."

A Summer to Remember

As we say goodbye to another Summer Holiday, we look forward to welcoming families aboard throughout the autumn and winter months. We are extremely proud of The Food Bus Team and thank our local community for joining us.

As the future of HAF remains uncertain, it is crucial that we continue to recognise and support the vital role that school holiday programmes play in our communities. Without continued funding, many families will struggle to provide their children with the same level of support during the holidays. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that all children thrive both in and out of school.

You can support our kids clubs by donating here!

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Jun 24, 2024
Spring Kid's Clubs and More!

By Georgia Wright | Media and Comms Manager

All aboard!

Over the past few months, we've been dedicated to providing food, fun, and educational experiences to children and families in our local community. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we've been able to offer free meals and engaging activities to young people on free school meals and families with low incomes.

April Activities

In April, we hosted workshops led by nutritionists from Chartwells:

Hummus and Flatbreads Workshop: Participants learned about the nutritional benefits of the ingredients before blending chickpeas to make hummus and kneading dough to create flatbreads. This hands-on experience was both educational and delicious.
Rainbow Wraps Workshop:** Children watched "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" video and then made their own vibrant rainbow wraps using tortillas and fresh vegetables. The afternoon included a creative craft session where everyone decorated 2D eggs with drawings and sticky gems.

May Activities

May was equally exciting with a focus on planting and healthy cooking:

Soil Planting Workshop: Each child received a Pot Gang box containing everything needed to plant vegetables, including compost, pots, and seeds. After following planting instructions, some children decorated their pots before taking them home to grow spinach, basil, and bean sprouts.
Summer Roll Workshop: Families enjoyed a demonstration on making summer rolls, a healthy and tasty dish made with fresh veggies and rice paper. Children selected their own colorful vegetables to create their rolls, followed by a well-deserved, delicious lunch.

We also partnered with Oasis Adventure Playground, where kids enjoyed zip lining, pedal karts, swings, football, and more!

Looking Ahead

Be Enriched and The Food Bus team are committed to continuing their mission of serving the community with affordable, nutritious food and activities that foster togetherness. We will soon be partnering up with our local leisuire centre to provide children with free lunches aloingside after their swim, helping them to get to and from the leisure centre too. We look forward to telling you all about it!

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