The Project
PHOEBE is an Ipswich based organisation working with women and children from black, minoritized and migrant backgrounds. They provide support with group sessions, counselling, 1-2-1 legal and psycho-social support, cost of living advice and guidance, financial guidance, ESOL classes, as well as provision of safe spaces, maternity and housing support.
As part of their work, PHOEBE have been providing food parcels for those in need on a weekly basis and including essential items for babies and children. They have also been hosting community lunches once a week to bring together service users, ensure they have a hot meal and to allow them to build a supportive community with others in similar circumstances. This is also an opportunity for volunteers and staff to speak with users to provide individual support.
Sessions have also been run on Fridays after school during term time for children and young people of secondary school age where they are provided with a hot meal. Similar sessions are also held for primary school age children, though these are held during school holidays.
Sustainable Communities Food Fund Pilot Project
PHOEBE applied to the Ipswich Sustainable Communities Food Fund for funding to run a month-long pilot project. The ‘Avocado Café’ project would allow them to provide cooking sessions for a minimum of 45 women per month. This included single mothers, unpaid carers, elderly women, those with English as an additional language and women in low-paid employment who are in need of additional support. They were able to identify the target audience for this and disseminate information about the project through their existing groups of service users and by promoting it to those they knew would benefit from the sessions.
The sessions would allow building of community and support systems, teaching of essential skills, learning to cook culturally-appropriate food as well as reducing food waste by sourcing the ingredients for the sessions from FareShare.
The funding also enabled PHEOBE to provide cooking and baking life skills sessions for the children and young people attending their after school and school holiday sessions.
Outcomes and Next Steps
Beneficiaries of the cooking sessions were able to form friendships with one another which have continued beyond the length of the pilot project. This has in turn helped reduce loneliness and isolation and strengthened the community.
Many stated that taking part in the sessions increased their confidence both socially and in their ability to cook and bake from scratch at home with some finding they wanted to cook more at home than prior to the sessions.
Since the successful pilot, PHOEBE has sought further funding from both the sustainable communities food fund and other sources to allow them to continue the pilot project and support more women and children in Ipswich.
(Images and descriptions below provided by PHOEBE – cooking sessions with young people)
‘This photo shows a group of young people gathered around a table, busy with a baking activity. Each person is engaged in mixing ingredients in large bowls, such as self-raising flour and sugar, creating a practical and hands-on experience. The session takes place in a friendly, modern space with a quiz visible on the screen in the background, adding a fun element to the activity. The image highlights teamwork, learning, and enjoyment—all hallmarks of a successful community food project.’
