What we believe in
Idia’s Community Kitchen
No one should go hungry
According to the Trussel Trust’s State of Hunger Report, people accessing food banks have on average just £248 a month, after housing costs, to pay for their gas, electricity, water, council tax, food, and everything else. Hackney, with almost 50% of our children living in poverty, is one of the most deprived boroughs in the country, alongside Hoxton and Haggerston (according to the English Indices of Deprivation, 2019), which are the areas where Idia’s Community Kitchen operates.
We produce enough food to feed everyone on the planet, yet so many go hungry, even in the UK, one of the richest countries in the world.
Idia’s Community Kitchen aims to be the change we want to see in our community. A place where everyone has nutritious food to eat, alongside access to support and signposting to allow residents to afford the absolute essentials that we all need – to eat, stay warm and dry, and keep clean.
Food waste should be reduced
UNEP’s first Food Waste Index report estimates that food waste from households, retail establishments and the food service industry totals 931 million tonnes each year. The UK is estimated to waste 77 kg of food per capita. No one would argue that this is wrong in a world where people are hungry.
Moreover, estimates suggest that 8 – 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed. “If food loss and waste were a country, it would be the third biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions” (Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP, 2021).
Idia’s Community Kitchen does its bit to redistribute otherwise wasted food by collecting unsold food from three local branches of Co-op, three local branches of Tesco, a local branch of Pret A Manger and other local businesses and restaurants often via Hackney Foodbank, who also donate short-dated items that they cannot distribute to their beneficiaries. Anything we don’t use to cook with is made available to community members via donation tables at our centres.
Everyone is family
In a world of so many inequalities, we believe it is possible to create a space where everyone can be themselves without fear of judgement or injustice. Society in Hackney is colourful and diverse and people of all background, religion, culture, ethnicity, gender, social class, age, sexual orientation and disability are represented across our beneficiaries, volunteers, trustees and supporters at Idia’s Community Kitchen. Our core values are kindness, respect and acceptance for all, and we regard everyone who joins us in any capacity and from whatever background as a member of our family. Welcome to one and all!
What we believe in
Idia’s Community Kitchen
No one should go hungry
According to the Trussel Trust’s State of Hunger Report, people accessing food banks have on average just £248 a month, after housing costs, to pay for their gas, electricity, water, council tax, food, and everything else. Hackney, with almost 50% of our children living in poverty, is one of the most deprived boroughs in the country, alongside Hoxton and Haggerston (according to the English Indices of Deprivation, 2019), which are the areas where Idia’s Community Kitchen operates.
We produce enough food to feed everyone on the planet, yet so many go hungry, even in the UK, one of the richest countries in the world.
Idia’s Community Kitchen aims to be the change we want to see in our community. A place where everyone has nutritious food to eat, alongside access to support and signposting to allow residents to afford the absolute essentials that we all need – to eat, stay warm and dry, and keep clean.
Food waste should be reduced
UNEP’s first Food Waste Index report estimates that food waste from households, retail establishments and the food service industry totals 931 million tonnes each year. The UK is estimated to waste 77 kg of food per capita. No one would argue that this is wrong in a world where people are hungry.
Moreover, estimates suggest that 8 – 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food that is not consumed. “If food loss and waste were a country, it would be the third biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions” (Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP, 2021).
Idia’s Community Kitchen does its bit to redistribute otherwise wasted food by collecting unsold food from three local branches of Co-op, three local branches of Tesco, a local branch of Pret A Manger and other local businesses and restaurants often via Hackney Foodbank, who also donate short-dated items that they cannot distribute to their beneficiaries. Anything we don’t use to cook with is made available to community members via donation tables at our centres.
Everyone is family
In a world of so many inequalities, we believe it is possible to create a space where everyone can be themselves without fear of judgement or injustice. Society in Hackney is colourful and diverse and people of all background, religion, culture, ethnicity, gender, social class, age, sexual orientation and disability are represented across our beneficiaries, volunteers, trustees and supporters at Idia’s Community Kitchen. Our core values are kindness, respect and acceptance for all, and we regard everyone who joins us in any capacity and from whatever background as a member of our family. Welcome to one and all!
