Community meal scheme to be launched

A NEW community meals initiative, Abraham’s Kitchen, has been set up by staff at Westbury Town Council to bring people together and reduce food waste in the town. 

In November, Westbury Town Council agreed £500 plus a staff charity day would be made available for a staff-led/community-based initiative.

With this money, staff at the town council are now introducing ‘Abraham’s Kitchen’ an initiative that will see the Laverton become a meeting point for the young and the old, providing a relaxed and welcoming environment and a free community meal made from excess food waste, whilst targeting those who need food and companionship the most. Donations will be welcomed from diners who can afford to contribute. 

Julie Dyer, admin team leader at the council said, “It is with thanks to Westbury Town Council that staff have been able to put this idea together and get to where we are today to launch ‘Abraham’s Kitchen’. They have given us their support from the beginning and have allowed us to get the funding we need to carry out this initiative. 

“We are hoping to run a community meal event once a week during the school holidays which will be open to all. The meals will be made from food waste that we are currently sourcing from local supermarkets, pubs and restaurants. We have been able to find a volunteer cook, who will bring along helpers, but we would be interested to hear from anyone who could volunteer their time to help us set-up and clean down events. 

“It is important that we are not taking away from any other current food waste projects in the town such as the Community Fridge or Crosspoint, so we are looking to seek food from elsewhere. 

“It will initially start at the Laverton, however we understand that not all people are able to get to us, so we are looking to move around locations in the town to ensure everyone has the chance to come and have a free community meal.

“As well as the initial funding from Westbury Town Council, we have also received a grant from Westbury Area Board in order for us to purchase basic equipment needed such as wipe down tablecloths, as well as money to promote the event.

“The BA13+ Community Area Partnership have also been awarded a grant from Westbury Area Board for catering equipment that will be available for community groups to borrow for events. We are very happy that this will be available for us to use. 

“We are very excited about this project and hope it will be a success in the town.”

For more information about ‘Abraham’s Kitchen’ or to volunteer to help during events you can contact Julie at Julie.dyer@westburytown council.gov.uk.

The initiative has been named after Abraham Laverton, the Westbury philanthropist who gifted the Laverton building to the town in 1873.