The WestRaven Community Café in Westwood has continued to support the local community through lockdown by supplying food bags to those who have been shielding and finding it hard.

The Café has had to close as an indoor seated venue in line with government guidance, but this has not stopped the socially distanced and covid-secure team from keeping local people stocked up with supplies. They have also continued to produce  hot take away meals each day between 9am and 2pm.

The food comes from Fareshare, Food for Nought and Little Miracles, and is supported by funding from PCVS. When in season, food grown by volunteers at the WestRaven Community Garden, has also been appearing in the food bags. The bags have been a huge help in sustaining the local community throughout the pandemic, and at its peak last year, the Café was providing up to 100 food bags a week.

Since Christmas, the Café has been continuing to deliver around 20 bags a week to those who are shielding and 50 bags a week have been available for socially distanced collection.

In addition to the food bags, the team at the Café also helped Peterborough Homeless Helpers with a Christmas Dinner for 60 Homeless people, as well as providing 20 people who were on their own for Christmas with a three-course festive meal.

The WestRaven Community Café is part of the WestRaven Big Local project, a resident led initiative funded by the Big Lottery Fund and supported by Cross Keys Homes as its trusted local organisation, to transform the local area and provide community amenities, such as the Café and a community garden.

Christine Nice, Chef Manager at the Café said: “Having to close the café and stop access to the Community Fridge that it hosts has been a huge blow to local residents who rely on it to access healthy food. We knew we needed to find a way to safely offer the same access and the food bags seemed like the perfect option. We are really looking forward to opening back up when we safely can this Spring, and bringing the social heart back to Westwood.”

Linda French, Chair of the WestRaven Committee, said: “The team at the Café have worked extremely hard in really difficult circumstances to not only keep food bags going out to the shielding and vulnerable, but also to keep everyone safe.

“These food bags, along with puzzle packs and other treats, have been a real lifeline to so many local residents who have felt isolated over the last tumultuous year. Everyone in the Westwood area would like to say a huge thank you to Christine, the chef, and all the staff and volunteers, and I know we are all looking forward to opening up the café again, once it is safe.”

You can find out more about the WestRaven Community Café and Garden by following them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestravenCafeandGarden