Willowtown Community Primary School aimed to support families and community residents through their ‘Big Bocs Bwyd’ project.
The BBB is a shipping container that has been converted into a small, welcoming Community Shop ran by school staff, pupil young ambassadors and volunteer parents and carers.
The BBB opens twice weekly and runs on a ‘Pay as You Feel’ model which allows customers to only pay what they can afford but reduce prejudice and support sustainability.
The school main aims were to:
• Reduce Food Poverty
• Minimize Food Waste
• Support families and the wider community
• Create healthy and nutritious recipes that inspire families to cook and enjoy together
• Promote inclusion and cultural awareness and inspire involvement.
Willowtown Community Primary School were successful in gaining funding support from the Community Cohesion grant which has supported the BBB project to grow and flourish. In receiving funding, the school have impacted on families in more ways than one, by providing nutritious food to purchase, recipe cards and cookery workshops which also included a takeaway home bag of food so that families felt confident and comfortable in cooking the recipe at home.
Delivery of the cooking workshops were supported by volunteer parents who have completed Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate which was also supported through this grant and the school. This has positively impacted their skills for future work along with reducing barriers for parents to discuss healthier choices for meals.
Grandparents of many pupils have also gained support from the project by taking part in a weekly shop at a local supermarket with staff. This has allowed the school to identify shopping patterns and offer healthier alternatives which are cost effective.
The school is proud of their diversity and through this project, they have been able to share and offer a variety of food choices that fall out of the British cuisine.
Rebecca Hughes, Family Engagement and Learning Officer stated, ‘I feel that the project has become imbedded in our local Community and is continuing to build upon what has already been established alongside setting and achieving future targets. It has helped to break down barriers and prejudice and has encouraged inclusion, diversity and empathy within the School Community. It has also proved a vital help in engaging with Parents and Family members and allowed myself to signpost to other free community resources along with increasing Partnership Working’.
The project has now expanded in the creation of a school allotment where a volunteer Mr Kettle has begun clearing space, building raised beds and working with the schools Senedd Eco Group to develop an action plan for Spring 2024.
