Urban Villages - Focus Magazine {Issue 11)

EAST BELFAST Urban Villages Initiative in EastSide

Keeping Healthy Staying Safe supports the Scaffolding Project @ The Larder

As part of the Keeping Healthy Staying Safe (KHSS) Programme, the Scaffolding Project partnered with community organisations to support delivery of bespoke food projects for people most in need in the EastSide Urban Village area. Louise Ferguson from The Larder commented; “Food parcels appear in all sorts of ways, from neighbours, friends or strangers. “At The Larder we’ve been working to draw together all that’s best about receiving a food parcel. With support from the Scaffolding Project and a lovely bunch of delivery volunteers, we introduced the ‘Dinner’s Done Club’ for 20 families who were relying on emergency food for some time.” “While providing slow cookers and weekly recipe bags of fresh ingredients, our friendly volunteers have had great doorstep chats with the families. Our hope is this combination of community, convenience and fresh food, restores some dignity for them, and is the beginning of something new for us here at The Larder.” Hosford’s support for the homeless The Hosford Health and Wellbeing Hub has had a busy year even with Covid restrictions, they have still met with clients, supporting their needs and preventing homelessness.

The Larder designed this creative new ‘Dinners Done Club’ , to provide a bespoke quality experience for some of the most vulnerable families, to improve their wellbeing and restore dignity. KHSS is supported by a funding partnership between the Urban Villages Initiative and Business in the Community (BITC). The Keeping Healthy Staying Safe project enabled Hosford to supply an extra 20 hampers per month to their clients, providing both PPE and food. Many clients described these

The Hosford clients are excited about the new garden and after inputting their ideas, everyone is looking forward to revisiting this rejuvenated outdoor shared space. The garden will help clients with their physical and mental health, as well as promoting better overall wellbeing. The garden will also benefit the local community. The garden will also benefit the

hampers “a life saver.” Hosford have also been

focusing on rebuilding their Community Garden at East Belfast Mission with work on the garden recently completed.

Urban Villages Initiative | Focus Magazine Issue 11