The Community Living Room project is based at the Hornbeam Centre, which is a non-profit organisation committed to food equality and community building.
The cafe is used four days a week by The Gleaners (also a non-profit), which is a long-standing local community group. The Skills Within has come together with both organisations to facilitate a day long service every Wednesday. Initially using The Gleaners to promote and refer people and with the Hornbeam providing the physical space and food surplus produce.
This Skills Within service is a cafe, drop-in centre and advice bureau, rolled into one. We use games for community building, hold online skills development and give advice and referrals on a wide range of topics from health to immigration to finances and more. All this while also delivering a hot meal that nourishes mind, body and soul.
The delivery of this wonderful project is facilitated by both the in-house team and a growing group of beautiful volunteers. This facilitation method allows us to both support those in need and give others within the community an opportunity to give back. Invariably those in need also discover how much they have to give too. Alongside the volunteer support we also invite local businesses in and give them opportunities to collaborate, gift their time or resources and support the ongoing project.