Learn and Grow Project

Empowering Youth & Tackling Food Insecurity in the Borough: – Wandsworth

This project addresses a key gap in current food security efforts by targeting underserved secondary school children (ages 12–16) in the borough—an age group often overlooked by existing programmes like Free School Meals. The project targets an estate area with known social deprivation and a diverse population with a rich cultural heritage of creative art and music, which will be celebrated during June and July as part of the Wandsworth Borough of Culture activities. There will be no criteria for participation, unlike other services which are criteria-led, such as those whose parents are receiving state benefits.

The project draws its inspiration from the Bahá’í Youth Empowerment Programme. It combines food provision with a youth-led empowerment model that reduces stigma around poverty and promotes leadership. By placing young people at the centre of programme design and delivery, the initiative fosters confidence and encourages them to see themselves as agents of change, capable of contributing meaningful solutions within their community. This dual approach tackles both immediate nutritional needs and long-term community resilience and cohesion.

This project tackles food insecurity by promoting the collective preparation and sharing of meals, fostering community, reducing poverty stigma, and empowering youth. Unlike traditional food banks, it brings participants together to cook and eat, creating a shared experience that transcends social and economic barriers. It also provides a safe space for sharing experiences and concerns about their environment, and consultation on shaping the project itself to serve their community.

The initiative supports three key areas: material needs (access to nutritious food), intellectual growth (cooking and nutrition skills, consultation skills, social skills), and spiritual development (self-worth in recognising one’s own nobility, dignity, and the qualities necessary for community living).

Pilot Observations

The pilot demonstrated that hands-on cooking sessions were highly engaging for young participants, especially when combined with discussions on nutrition, teamwork, shared experiences, and recreational games. A key insight was the value of connection—particularly for engaging girls—highlighted by one girl’s increased participation after being encouraged by a female volunteer. She expressed her sense of belonging, her desire for continued involvement, and her request for her school friends to also be involved.

Key learnings included the importance of home visits, connectedness of the children, and family engagement.

Project Organisation

The project operates under the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Wandsworth, which oversees safeguarding, financial management, and coordination. To meet funding requirements, it must be run under a recognized charity within the borough. Use of the Caius House venue requires adherence to specific safeguarding and insurance policies.

All volunteers must hold a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate and meet safeguarding requirements following appropriate training.

Volunteer Support and Outreach

The Bahá’í community is dedicated to sustaining this youth and food security initiative through volunteer support. The current volunteer team is 13 strong and diverse, including young people from various faith backgrounds. Volunteers include participants from a Ruhi Book 1 study group and others recruited through interfaith events. Notably, one volunteer has completed the ParliaMentor programme and has experience of community building through food, while another has experience working with refugee children and is training in therapy.

The team has received training from Citizens UK in community organising and children’s mental health, earning recognition as a certified “Be Well” working group. This affiliation connects the project to wider networks, including Roehampton University’s Be Well Student Group, who have expressed a desire to assist with the project. Training in community organising emphasised listening skills as a foundational practice.

Local support is reinforced by a long-time resident whose community connections enhance outreach efforts. Additionally, the Citizens UK Wandsworth representative has actively contributed to planning and provided valuable outreach advice—emphasising the importance of sharing the project’s origins and adopting a conversational, listening-led approach when engaging the community.

Approach

The team will develop a shared vision by studying Ruhi Book 5: Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth, which highlights the unique potential of junior youth and provides guidance for fostering their spiritual and social development. Team members will engage in regular consultation, skill-sharing, and collaborative decision-making to develop team synergy. After each session, a review will be conducted to capture learning and inform future planning.

Funding Support

We have received £800 from Citizens UK. The Leader of the Council and the Mayor at the time have both endorsed the project for application for funding. We are currently applying for Council funding to hire Caius House at a special rate of £150 per weekly session, along with a small additional amount for food ingredients not supplied by the food bank.

Food is being sourced from Waste Not Want Not and FareShare, which also supplies Caius House.

Current Plan

A summer project is planned for July using the funding received from Citizens UK. The team is meeting in June for planning and outreach. We aim to use Borough of Culture events to engage participants, consult with local residents, and distribute leaflets for registering attendance.

The project will run for one year, beginning with weekly sessions that gradually expand with community involvement to ensure sustainability. Following advice from a Council Officer, the project will be run by semester with three cohorts for wider participation, while remaining flexible and community-led.

Caius House is well-suited to the programme’s aims, offering a fully equipped kitchen, sports hall, art and computer rooms, classroom space, and a shared dining area.

How Did the Project Come About and Evolve

The project began through a friendship formed between a member of the Battersea Bahá’í community and a resident on the estate, who expressed concern about food insecurity and social isolation due to poverty. This prompted consultations within the Bahá’í community and research into local food bank provision.

Parallel conversations with young people and a Ruhi Book 1 study group led to the idea of a cooking project addressing both food insecurity and youth empowerment. The concept was later shared at an interfaith council meeting on the rising cost of living, where it gained interest and support from local initiatives and Council representatives.

A core working group was formed, a pilot session conducted, and learnings incorporated into the full proposal. Collaboration with Citizens UK led to training, certification as a “Be Well” group, and a successful small grant application.

Learnings

• Establishing a Bahá’í presence in interfaith spaces
• Cultivating friendships within the community
• Listening to community voices and concerns
• Friendship as a gateway to opportunities and support

Building Collaborative Relationships

Strong working relationships have been established with Council Officers, Community Service Managers, Citizens UK, and members of faith communities. These collaborations have enabled shared consultation, advocacy, and outreach, strengthening the project’s foundation and broadening its potential impact across the borough.