Jarrow community kitchen sees major update in hopes to serve residents
A Community Kitchen has been given a major boost as it looks to support local residents in Jarrow.
Sunflower Community Kitchen, which is based within Bilton Hall Community Trust, has been awarded Community Interest Company status.
This means more funding opportunities will be available and the focus of the brand can be on building a community asset rather than profit.
“It’ll mean I can apply for funding. It was just a kitchen within a community centre before” explains Diane Spour, director of the kitchen.
The kitchen’s new status also comes the new role title for Spour after she was previously an employee of the Community Trust, which the kitchen is now independent from.
The team behind the site create affordable food and a safe place to spend time for people across the community who may struggle with the cost of living.
Budget prices for full cost meals
“The prices are really budget prices for full meals” she explains.
“A couple of weeks ago we had lamb dinners on for £5.50. I’m not going any higher.”
A variety of community members use the site, from young families to retired residents, all hoping for a well made meal at a fraction of the cost of food elsewhere.
‘Everything is source-to-table’
Despite spending time running restaurants nationwide as wellas Spain, 52-year-old Spour says she was always going to return to the borough. She returned to work 20 hours per week at Bilton Hall and now commits up to six days per week to the kitchen.
“I’ve got another little venture coming on. I’ve got the plot of land at the back of the building so I’m going to make all the meals source to table.”
This includes the introduction of chickens to the site in the coming weeks.
Another aspect of the new Community Interest Company company is the creation of jobs. Three new roles have been created within Diane’s team, which have already been filled by young people from across the community.
“I want it focused around younger people so they can carry this on when I can’t do as much as I currently do.
“We’re just community people making a space for the community. I’m super proud of it. Everything is home made, we have nothing brought in.”