The Welcome Network

- evidencing local need and championing local voices to shape the policy required at both local and national level to create a fit for purpose food system.

The Welcome Network supports communities to build resilience and empower them to find solutions to the food poverty problems they face by offering direct support to community groups.

Our staff provide specialist infrastructure support that enables local community groups to run the food-related activities and events they believe their community needs. This infrastructure support includes organising:

- workshops to prepare groups for running community cooking sessions;

- food hygiene training and allergy awareness training;

- get-togethers for community food providers to learn from each other, share recipes, ideas and to support to each other;

- local network meetings and workshops for groups to share ideas, resources, discuss partnerships and joined up working.

With this support, community groups run food and activities during the school holidays for children, young people and their families, and contribute to Meeting Places. Meeting places act as local ‘hubs’ and offer people the chance to feel part of their community, learn, eat, cook, grow, share ideas and have fun!

We currently work alongside communities in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich and Winsford.

Our values are: Friendly: A warm, informal welcome, offering good food and actively creating positive and lasting relationships Dignifying: Every response in friendly and inclusive, building communities where all people have equal worth. Collaborative: Working together with people and organisations, sharing specialist knowledge and good practice and making best use of resources