Bournemouth Foodbank launched a new initiative on Wednesday that aims to provide warm meals and a welcoming space for people in need in the local community.
Winter Warmers, hosted at The Garden Rooms Cafe in Boscombe, is a new project in partnership with Bournemouth Foodbank that will run every Wednesday between 12 and 2pm.
Zoe Trim is the volunteer coordinator and social media secretary for the project and emphasised the importance of food access to people in need.
“Bournemouth Foodbank has been awarded a grant for the Winter Warmers project. It’s all about a warm space for the winter, a hot meal and community connection,” Trim said.
“It’s about bringing people together, all different people, diverse communities and offering a really lovely hearty meal in the winter.”
The Winter Warmers campaign is also providing a free thermos to people upon their first visit so they can take food away to keep warm should they need it.
“Winter Warmers is about more than food – it’s about warmth, connection and community,” Bournemouth Foodbank said in a post on facebook. “[people are] encouraged to stay for the session, join in with activities, or simply relax and enjoy the space.”
Chloe Lockett, who works closely with BCP Council’s Access to Food Partnership, highlighted the value of initiatives like Winter Warmers that bring together support and connection within the community.
“I think it really does affect people mentally if you don’t feel a sense of belonging,” Lockett said.
“I think for someone to feel that there is somewhere warm they can go, do some crafts and get a meal – it’s really important, and it affects so much of a person.”
Winter Warmers is open to anyone in the community and does not require a referral, and it is with the help of volunteers that the event can go on.
“We [The Bournemouth Foodbank] have a team of over 300 active volunteers who keep this place running and without them this would not happen,” Trim said.
“Projects like Winter Warmers, lots of it is run by volunteers with staff leading. Today, the Winter Warmers have three volunteers and I am just overseeing.”
“The community connection part of it and keeping people together is really important. It’s very cold out at the moment, it’s having that safe warm space that they can come and just have a warm meal if that’s what they want.
“They can find out information about what else we do, or we can signpost them for help if there’s anything they need.”
The Garden Rooms Cafe hosts Winter Warmers every Wednesday.
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