This Earth Day, we were thrilled to co-host a vibrant celebration at the Teviot Centre in Tower Hamlets alongside our fantastic partners, Leaders in Community. As part of the Bridging the Gap project funded by Sustain and the Sheepdrove Trust, the event welcomed over 50 local families for a hands-on day centred around climate and nature friendly food and community connection.
The food co-op was brimming with fresh, organic fruit and veg, available at half the price, thanks to the subsidies provided by the Bridging the Gap project. “I shop here every week.” Mounia, a local mum of three who uses her Rose Vouchers to shop at the co-op told us.
“Before Rose Vouchers, I tried to buy organic where I could, but it was often too expensive at the supermarket. Now, I can afford to buy fruit and veg that is fresh, locally sourced and free of pesticides. Rose Vouchers have helped me shop in a way that matters to me, and I feel really good about how I’m feeding my children.”
The Teviot Centre’s community garden was also buzzing with activity. Families made tea using fresh herbs grown on site, and helped plant salad crops kindly donated by folx farm. These activities helped residents create a joyful and meaningful connection to the food they eat and where it comes from.
Attendees watched a series of short films showcasing inspiring community food action across Tower Hamlets, and contributed their thoughts on the priorities for their own local food action plan. There were also craft workshops and activities, creating a real sense of celebration and community connection.
Melanie, Food Co-op Coordinator from Leaders in Community, reflected on the day:
“We were so happy to welcome many new faces and families to our Earth Day Spring Celebration. It was a joy to show off our garden in bloom, lovingly nurtured by our weekly community growing group. It was a fantastic turnout with new families and children getting stuck into garden activities, enjoying learning about and sampling the wild edible plants as well as harvesting from our herb beds. Our hall was packed for our film screenings and lunch, with a fantastic response from the community in getting involved further in food and growing projects LiC has on offer. The afternoon creative workshop run by one of our community champions was also a huge success. A bustling and nourishing day.”
For us, the event embodied the spirit of Bridging the Gap, a project that not only helps families on low incomes access affordable organic fruit and veg, but also supports local growers and strengthens local food systems. Chrissy, founder of folx farm and a supplier of the food co-op, reflected on why this work is so important:
“Fresh, organically grown fruit and veg is out of reach for too many people, especially during the ongoing cost of living crisis. That’s why seeing the impact of our produce firsthand means so much. The response from the community has been incredible, and knowing it’s truly valued by the people it’s grown for gives me a deep sense of fulfilment. Days like this remind me why I do what I do – they give real purpose to my work as a grower.”
And as our Tower Hamlets Project Coordinator Steph shared:
“It was fantastic to see so many local residents come together for our Earth Day event and to give them the opportunity to learn more about the Teviot Centre and the Bridging the Gap project. It’s inspiring to see so many families benefiting from the project and feeling empowered to make healthy food choices that are also kind to the planet.”
We’re proud to be working with such passionate partners and communities to build a more healthy and sustainable food system.
Find out more about the impact of the Bridging the Gap project in Tower Hamlets in our latest report.