The St Giles East of England team have been running an ongoing series of wellbeing activity sessions at the Magdalen Street Pantry in Norwich as part of their support package for clients.
The Magdalen Street Pantry is part of the St Giles Pantry network, comprising nine locations across England and Wales. This unique model provides more than just nutritious and affordable food. On-site staff and volunteers, many with similar experiences as the clients they support, offer expert advice and assistance. For a weekly subscription of £3.50, clients can select fresh, wholesome food and receive support to address the underlying causes of poverty.
In addition to the package of support, the Magdalen Street Pantry arrange holistic wellbeing workshops to empower clients to learn new skills, self-reflect, and connect with others in a supportive and inclusive environment. Participants have enjoyed activities like pumpkin carving, painting, crafting Christmas decorations, and writing messages of hope for the ‘Positivitree,’ a paper tree previously displayed in the Pantry.
The holistic workshops have been facilitated by Pantry staff, our Volunteer Activity Coordinator, and have included participation from the leading fuel poverty charity, National Energy Action.
As part of the programme, participants also took part in a research study conducted by a researcher from the University of East Anglia, in collaboration with the Norfolk Community Foundation. This study explores attitudes, experiences and feelings toward food hubs in general.
Feedback from clients attending the workshops has been positive who enjoyed the opportunities for personal growth and community connection:
‘Everyone is really engaged – people just start talking to one another’ – Client
‘Craft is therapeutic, even for those who think they can’t craft’ – Client
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