Be Enriched

Dear Friend,

At Be Enriched, we believe that food is more than fuel, it’s a powerful tool to bring people together, create community, and support those who need it most. Thanks to your support, we've continued to deliver on that promise across South London this quarter, making meaningful strides in tackling food insecurity, social isolation, and the rising pressures of the Cost of Living crisis.

Community Canteens: Food, Friendship, and Connection

Our Community Canteens in Tooting, Clapham, and Elephant & Castle continue to thrive. In the past few months, we’ve hosted 49 canteen sessions, welcoming 1,212 guests and serving over 3,600 hot, nutritious meals, each made from surplus or donated ingredients, prepared and served by our dedicated volunteers.

These meals are about more than nutrition. They create a space where people can feel seen, heard, and connected. From retirees seeking companionship to parents in need of support, our canteens offer a consistent source of dignity, community, and care.

Our annual guest survey, conducted with London Metropolitan University, revealed encouraging results:

• 89% of guests made new friends

• 87% of over-65s reported reduced loneliness

• 76% are eating more fruits and vegetables

• 78% now cook from fresh ingredients weekly

• 60% learned something new about healthy eating

We were also proud to see our Clapham Canteen featured on BBC’s Comic Relief, spotlighting the critical work of our volunteers and the strength of the communities we serve.

The Food Bus: A Mobile Solution To Food Access 

Our Food Bus, a mobile greengrocer designed to bring affordable produce to areas with limited access to supermarkets, has had a busy quarter. It made 70 stops and served 772 customers, delivering fresh, low-cost fruit, vegetables, and pantry staples to families and individuals across South London.

We’ve recently expanded service to two new sites, Jubilee Children’s Centre and the Acacia Centre, and launched a new WhatsApp community to keep customers informed. A new partnership with a national supplier has also helped us lower costs and increase the availability of staple goods.

As we prepare to launch a new stop in Tulse Hill, we’re also piloting a membership scheme to further support low-income households.

Kids’ Clubs: Fighting Holiday Hunger

During the Easter break, we ran our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, welcoming 48 children from families who qualify for free school meals. Across five days, the children took part in fun, hands-on cooking classes, food education workshops, arts and crafts, and even planted their own vegetables with the Pot Gang.

Each day, children prepared and enjoyed nutritious meals, from carrot soup and burritos to fruit smoothies and stuffed peppers, learning valuable life skills and building confidence along the way.

To extend the impact into the home, we teamed up with the Mayor’s Fund for London to distribute Take & Make cooking kits, helping families cook together and explore new, healthy ingredients beyond the classroom.

Looking Ahead

The cost of living continues to challenge many of our neighbours, but with your support, Be Enriched is rising to meet the need. Whether it’s a plate of food, a bag of groceries, or a warm welcome at our Kids’ Clubs, your donations are directly supporting those who might otherwise go without.

If you’re able, we invite you to continue supporting this work, through a one-time donation or by becoming a monthly donor and help us bring food and friendship to even more people across South London.

With gratitude,
The Be Enriched Team