Beyond Food

Our group came away feeling so inspired with aspirations of becoming the best potwashers, head chefs and general managers in London!

Yesterday was a day that deserves to be paused and savoured. One of the reasons for writing this blog was to pause, breathe and remember the significance of all that we are doing through our busiest weeks of the year.

Alice and I took a group to an open day at Beyond Food - 'inspiring a future beyond homelessness' - a social enterprise restaurant at Brigade Bar + Kitchen in Tooley Street, London Bridge that employs homeless people. It was a recruitment day for next year's trainees.

If you're ever in London do go and check out the Brigade Bar + Kitchen, learn about their mission but also eat their delicious food!

• First things first: this is not a second rate cafe or even a 'just okay because it's a social enterprise' restaurant - this place is highly impressive!

• Secondly, homeless people really do work there! One of the current JRP residents is on an apprenticeship there; we saw him working in the kitchen.

• Thirdly, they really are focused beyond food; they genuinely care for people. I have never heard such a simple and positive approach to people who have criminal records.

• Fourthly, everyone is included. When Simon Boyle, Director of Beyond Food, said, "If you want to be the best pot washer in the world...", one of our residents said, "That’s me!"

We spent a couple of hours there. We were welcomed, had a talk from the director Simon, got to ask questions, had some amazing food, did a tour of the building and then had a lovely relaxed chat with Simon afterwards. It was simply lovely travelling on the train with our group and taking a walk along the Thames together.

As a taste of things to come, we were served a carrot, coconut and coriander soup, followed by a lovely mackerel salad.

Almost all of our group signed up on the spot to join the process in January and everyone said how impressed they were! One of female residents went up to the kitchen staff and said she wanted to be a head chef!

So, if you plan to eat out in the London Bridge area, please consider going to Brigade . It is another great way to kick against commercialism. One of the most poignant questions to Simon was 'why do you do this?' He answered brilliantly with 3 or 4 main reasons and the last one was that we live in an unjust world but we have an opportunity to do things to build a more just world. Beyond Food felt fresh, counter cultural and utterly inspiring. I'm delighted that Simon has agreed to visit and speak at the Feast soon.

With money raised from King’s Christmas Trees,we will help with transport costs for the JRP supported applicants so they can attend Beyond Food's training.

So much to be grateful for. My memories from Brigade will stay with me for a long time and I hope the stories of hope that started yesterday last even longer!