On 15th June, 2010 members of the Community Initiatives Network met for the fourth time at the Kitchen Table Café in East Ham. The aim of the Network is to bring together community and faith based projects and initiatives which are building trust and community spirit and to help share good practice and offer support and resources to each other.
At this meeting Anne Cross, founder of the Kitchen Table Café’ explained how she nurtured her idea of using food as way of bringing people together. She recollected how they began as a small group meeting in each others houses as a prayer group and sharing meal on regular basis. The idea was later transformed in to developing a Café that will create opportunities for community conversations. In the one year that the Café had been in operation it has helped people build strong connections. She said ‘I have observed people who don’t normally meet having real conversations over a meal and developing friendship. People now exchange phone calls, visit each other and attend joint activities’.
Members had this to say about the positive aspects of sharing food: ‘serves as a powerful Ice breaker, creates cultural understanding, good way to welcome people, develop self-confidence and affirmation for those who prepare the food.’ It was acknowledged that when people share a meal with you it shows appreciation and build trust.
Other members shared briefly their experiences of running events where food helped people to build relationships and have real conversations that they wouldn’t have ordinarily.
The Community Initiatives Network is part Conflict and Change Community Development work to create a Forum for individuals/ groups/organisations involved in bridge building work across faith/ communities. The next meeting of the Network is on September 21st, 10am to 12 noon at Kitchen table Café, 292b Barking Road, East Ham, E6 2 BA. If you are interested in joining this Network please contact Sarjoh on 020 8552 2050/ sarjoh@conflictand change.co.uk
