Worksop: Cafe launches social dining event to reduce food waste and boost community spirit

Social enterprise café Truly Scrumptious launched its social eating event to boost community spirit, while making use of surplus food.

The café sourced produce from FareShare, a nationwide charity that collects local food waste, to provide a three-course meal costing £2.50.

Steve Ralf, the director of Bread and Roses CIC (who run Truly Scrumptious), wants locals to come along to get to know someone new.

“There are so many people living in isolation, which is quite sad really. It’s a good opportunity to meet people”, he said.

“It would be very easy for us to say this is for poor people, but that’s not what it’s about.” “If we have people in need here, sat next to millionaires, then we’ve done our job.”

“It’s not about giving people a hand-out, but for people to come along and be a part of something”.

FareShare estimate that of the £3.9 million worth of food surplus wasted in the UK every year, 10 percent is fit for consumption.

On the menu this week were basil and tomato soup, a hearty casserole, and crumble and custard. The food is all in-date and cooked on the premises the same day, with vegetarian options available.

Steve hopes that his ‘Super Kitchen’ model will be rolled out around Worksop.

“We can’t supply transport so we’d like to encourage other organisations in the town to run similar events on different days”, he said.

If £2.50 is too much of a stretch, he encouraged people to come anyway and contribute by helping to clean up.

The social eating events run on Thursdays from 3.30-6pm, at 85 Bridge Street, alongside social group ‘NAAFI in the Cafe’ for military veterans.