Community food for all

FREE food is once again being served up to those in need in Leamington, thanks to the efforts of student volunteers.

Bath Place Community Venture used to run a popular weekly soup kitchen before its original building was burnt down two years ago, but now a group of Warwick University students, led by student Katy Oliver, have taken it upon themselves to relaunch the idea at the venture’s current site in Avenue Road.

The six volunteers filled around 20 stomachs at their first community lunch on Sunday, after preparing a three-course vegetarian meal using ingredients that were mostly destined for landfill.

Among them is Owen Everett, who is in the final year of his history degree. He said: “Most of us were involved in the student movement, People and Planet, whose members are passionate about sustainability issues and trying to oppose the great wastage of food.

“Volunteers spend a bit of time during the week requesting donations of food that is largely past its sell-by date, picking it up and then cooking on Sunday mornings.”

Sunday’s meal, which consisted of vegetable soup, vegetarian pasta bake and a variety of cakes, was made up of food donated by businesses around Leamington, with the main contributors being Gaia wholefoods shop, Bread & Co and Spar.

Bath Place allowed them to hire the Veggie Table kitchen free of charge for the first lunch and further support for the cause came from a fundraising gig organised by the students last Friday.

Owen said: “We only spent a small amount of money on the pasta and a few spices.

“We had lots leftover so we really want to get the word out to people that they’re welcome to come along.”

He added: “On Sunday some of us sat down to eat with and chat to those who had come along. That was really nice.

“It’s very much for anyone who wants to come along. We wouldn’t turn anyone away.”

The Leamington Community Kitchen is open at the Veggie Table at Bath Place in Avenue Road every Sunday from noon to 2pm. Anyone who would like to help the group by becoming a volunteer should email [email protected]