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Helping feed the heart of BS13
A south Bristol charity which works to improve the health of people living in the area, have been working harder that ever during the coronavirus pandemic.
Heart of BS13, which was founded in 1900 by residents wanting to address specific health problems through increased connection with the local environment, offers mental health support, targeted nutrition, cooking activities and social enterprise.
Since the coronavirus pandemic started, the charity has sent out almost 18,000 meals and are now in the process of transforming its Covid-19 food response programme into the Real Meal Store, which is our sustainable response to tackling food insecurity in BS13.
is needed now More than ever
Heart of BS13 has also been holding online cooking courses, a socially distanced walking programme, counselling and therapy.
Staff and volunteers have also launched the Kitchen Garden Enterprise, selling flowers across the city – focusing on hampers and wreathes in the run up to Christmas – and a Community Climate Action group is helping to tackle the climate crisis.
Heart of BS13 run a number of projects, including Kitchen Garden Enterprise. Photo: Heart of BS13
One of Heart of BS13’s biggest 2020 achievements has been cooking more than 17,000 meals for people in the community, delivered for free by volunteers and FixX Bikes Bicycle Shop.
Kristjan Bigland, chef and nutrition expertise lead at the charity, with co-chef Luke used funding from the National Lottery Fund to transform their small space, only fit for small workshops and demonstrations, into a fully functioning commercial kitchen.
“We used every square inch of space, every pot and every pan to get as many meals out as possible”says Kristjan.
“Every week we received food donations from Morrisons and FareShare South West and Luke and I had to go through the ingredients to try and figure out what to make. It was a bit like Ready Steady Cook!”
When Kristjan started at Heart of BS13, he helped to run cooking classes for men, to help them build skills and confidence. When the coronavirus pandemic struck, executive director Georgina Perry asked if he could lead on an emergency food response for those who were vulnerable and shielding, Kristjan agreed.
The charity has distributed more than 17,000 meals during the pandemic. Photo: Quartet Community Foundation
The National Lottery Community Fund gave the charity a £78,500 grant to carry out the project.
“The National Lottery Community Fund has been so supportive,” says Georgina. “The funding has accelerated our ability to build and deliver a food response that we can now transition into a sustainable initiative for the local community.
“The Real Meal Store, launched just last week, ensures that delicious pre-cooked meals are available to purchase across Bristol, with the understanding that every meal that you pay full price for goes towards a discounted or free meal for low-income families.”
Addressing food poverty in BS13 by producing quality, pre-prepared, home-style ready meals, this new project, which is an extension of the charity’s Covid-19 response, are available to local residents at a low cost, or for free depending on circumstances from the Gatehouse Centre store.
Main photo: Heart of BS13
Read more: Lockdown 2.0 Diaries: BS13 – Bedminster Down, Bishopsworth and Hartcliffe
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