Longwood Park

The Community Pantry aims to help local residents access essential food items at a lower cost by using surplus food from partners like FareShare and UK Harvest. It is open to anyone living in the SL3 postcode area, where members can select their own food at significantly reduced prices compared to the market.

The Community Pantry has received positive feedback from the community, growing to 40 members within just four weeks. Residents appreciate the fresh vegetables and wider food options available. In addition to providing essential support to reduce living costs, the Community Pantry also serves as a meeting place for neighbours to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen community ties.

The Learn & Play Sessions on every Friday morning, organised by the Family Hub of Slough Council, are designed for children aged 0-4 and their parents. A variety of toys and activities are provided for the children. Outreach Workers from the Family Hub engages with parents, sharing valuable parenting knowledge, local resources, and nutrition advice for children. The programme has been well received by families, with stable attendance and a steady influx of new participants. Some parents have expressed interest in undergoing further training to take on roles in running the group long-term.

From November, we will organize the Coffee Morning for the community on every Wednesday 10am-12pm to provide a social space for the people to meet. This event aims to create a social space for residents to connect, fostering dialogue about the community and encouraging the sharing of ideas.

In December 2024, we will organise Christmas meals for older residents in the community. The goal is to bring older people together, foster connections, and strengthen neighbourhood networks. Volunteers will be recruited to help support this festive event.

The Youth Engagement Programme is being developed with input from young people to provide them with support in employment, education, and connecting with the broader community. By the end of the year, young people will have more opportunities to contribute to shaping this programme, which will form a key part of the new Community Investment Plan.

We are actively recruiting volunteers from the community to support a range of projects, including the Community Pantry, Play & Learn sessions, and Christmas Meals for Older People. Volunteers of all ages are welcome and will receive training in areas such as First Aid and Food Hygiene. Ongoing support will be provided to ensure that volunteers are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute to community events.

You said: 

Having met the teams at some of our events, you wanted more opportunities to speak with us in person

We did:

We have since collaborated with the Employment Team to create the Opportunity Hub, held every Tuesday, where various Abri teams engage with residents face-to-face and provide employment support. Moreover, we keep residents informed about community activities through notice boards, a digital display in the buildings, and posts in the community's Facebook group. We also organise focus groups to hear residents' views on community matters, incorporating their feedback into the new Community Investment Plan for future actions.

You said: 

It would be good to extend the community pantry opening hours; to support those working during the day, you also told us it would be good to see more cleaning products on offer.

We did: 

From November, we are extending the opening hours and will be enhancing the pantry offer to provide more of the essential items you identified.