All food has a value

Written by Lawrence

We all need food to live

Think of the farmer who grew the food

Think of the person who picked the food with their hands – fruit, vegetables, caring for animals

Think of the person who drove the tractor – cereals (wheat etc), cotton

Think of the people who drive the food – sometimes thousands of miles

Think of the people who put it in their shops to sell

Then think of all the people who need food to eat

All these people will tell you that food is not free

All food has a value

Now decide what you will give for the food

What You Give is What You Get

Isn’t that something that is so often said with malice or in a negative way?

But today I’ve been thinking about that a lot.

This morning in the cafe everything that I wanted to be happening in the cafe, was happening:

Senior members of the local council and West Yorkshire police had come to find out more about what we were doing and left feeling inspired and enthralled by what they saw.

An English class for refugees and asylum seekers had come to visit and were having an informal lesson around one of the tables.

The team of volunteers were busy preparing sandwiches for lunch for a seminar that was going on in the youth centre next door.

And a local elderly gentleman and his dog walked up as usual for a cup of tea and a natter.

And in the back corner were two young men who had obviously arranged to meet there and were talking over a pad of paper and a pen. After their meeting, they came over to the kitchen area, and asked if they could help.

I was delighted and immediately gave them aprons and set them to work arranging cake on a plate.

It turns out both men are in the immigration system; one a newly arrived Syrian refugee. One of the lucky few you may say who have managed to penetrate our immigration system and be granted leave to remain here and try to start a new life.

The other an Iraqi graduate (from a British university) now seeking asylum here. So the guy offering English and support is actually immersed in his own story of trauma, exile and asylum seeking and actually has less confidence in his status than the newer guy.

On paper, neither of them have anything. But in reality both have so much to offer and are delightful company.

We have been on WhatsApp tonight and I captured his comment in this screenshot which to me is the positive angle of the common phrase, ‘what you give is what you get’.

All of us volunteers say so often that we get so much more out of being part of TLC than we give. And it seems as if that is already happening for these two lone men finding their feet and stumbling upon our cafe where their help is absolutely gratefully received and they are certainly already getting a lot out of the experience of being connected, feeling part of a team, feeling of value and, perhaps, feeling that the future has a little bit more to offer them now.

Official Opening Night

It may have been quiet on the blog front for ToastLoveCoffee but certainly not on the ground! Last night, along with CATCH (Community Action to Change Harehills) we welcomed what seemed to be hundreds of people to our building and grounds on Hovingham Avenue. The mix of people was eclectic and absolutely represented what we are all trying to achieve; local families, police officers, business leaders, councillors, volunteers, teenagers, kids, older folk, charity leaders, were all enjoying the warm balmy evening. There was a barbecue on the go, we were serving drinks and canapes from the cafe, there was a kickboxing demonstration on the lawn and a football tournament on the pitches.

The atmosphere was electric with all the well wishers and positivity coming from all quarters. We feel so excited for the future – watch out for more opening hours, more days, and more projects from TLC (and as ever if you want to get involved please be in touch via a comment here, a Facebook or Twitter message).

Oh, and just in case this week wasn’t busy enough  – we’ve got a stall at the Harehills Festival in Banstead Park 12-4pm – pop by and say hello if you’re about!

And here’s the speech that I gave last night:

“Hi I’m Anna, mum of three, Jewish, background in Jewish youth and community work, living in Leeds, and founder of TLC community cafe.

The cafe story started when, in Dec 2012, I met Anita, a young mum in our asylum system, living in Harehills; my life has changed, for the better, for ever. She has taught me so much, and inspired me so much, and I know many others who also feel the same way. Anita, I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for you, so I want to say to you: THANK YOU and I feel so, so privileged that we are friends, that we have a relationship like sisters, that you are in my life.

We became friends in my kitchen over toast and coffee, and a year in, we wondered if we could create that space where more people could come together who otherwise wouldn’t meet, and that was the seed of ToastLoveCoffee (TLC).

Things moved quickly after meeting with Jill from Together for Peace (whom I had known for many years because of T4P interfaith initiatives in the city) to talk about our ‘crazy idea’. She said the now famous words, ‘I’ll be with you’ and she has been ever since! She introduced me to Ash Razzaq, and TLC soon became a reality with some seed funding from Leeds Grant Group and the School for Social Entrepreneurs, and by joining The Real Junk Food Project, so all our food is sourced with them (TRJFP intercepts good food that would otherwise go to waste). TLC operates on a pay as you feel basis – so you pay with respect, time, money, skills, a like and share on Facebook . . .

We started popping up at the old Hub building twice a week and it was happening; people were coming and meeting others, connections were being made, community was being built, food was being eaten and taken away, and people were walking out of TLC a little happier than they were when they came in.

Before moving to this new building we had a second temporary home down the road at the offices of RETAS – a charity supporting asylum seekers and refugees. There, we cemented our relationships with many people in that network, and we are privileged to have many of them as our volunteers both there, and now here. Our thanks to Roger and everyone at RETAS for welcoming us, promoting us and supporting our cafe.

However, we were desperate to return to Hovingham Avenue; being away from CATCH made us all realise that our future was going to be so much better embedded with them so when the opportunity to be part of the new building was presented to us, we were absolutely thrilled.

We would like to thank all 198 people who supported our Crowdfunder appeal who enabled it to happen, and the too many to mention volunteers who came over the summer to paint, sand, build, clean, varnish and decorate our new cafe space.  We learned that when people come together, whether it’s over a coffee, or building a kitchen island out of wooden pallets, there is real beauty and value in those people with different backgrounds coming together, working together and getting to know each other better.

We are so delighted with the results of our work over the summer in getting our permanent home ready for opening – the best feedback we get is that it feels like home, that it is warm and welcoming and that people can feel the love that we have invested in this space.

Since July 12, we have been open twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and now, with thanks to Engage’s support in funding our new kitchen equipment (hob, oven and extractor) we hope to be open for lunchtimes too.

We have also piloted a Youth night with CATCH on Wednesdays and early reports are very positive; we are thrilled to be able to partner with CATCH in this way to provide another safe alternative space for young people in this area in the evenings.

TLC would simply not exist without the huge dedication of our wonderful team – all volunteers. I don’t want to list them all – for fear of missing someone out, but I must say the hugest most heartfelt thank you to you all for believing in this with me, for giving your time, skills, passion and love to this cafe, and to making it the success it is today.

I am aware that one of the Council’s aspirations for Leeds is that it is a compassionate city; what does that look like? Well I’d like to say that if you come down on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, you’ll see what that can look like with TLC.”

Youthful TLC

Written by Jill Mann from Together for Peace

I had a meeting at ARK last night and arrived early to see how the young people & Ray had found (and/or survived!) their first evening of ‘youthful TLC’. I was greeted with beaming smiles, enthusiasm and a cafe that looked clean and in order. I could tell it had gone well. I asked two of the lads how they had found it, what they’d enjoyed most and what they’d learnt. They described how well Ray spoke with them and explained cafe tasks to them. They told me that they now knew all the stages of washing up properly and one of them stated that he wanted a paid job in a cafe when he was older so this was good experience for him. They seemed like naturals behind the counter and they clearly had enjoyed the first shift. As they were leaving their words were ‘when are we working again?’, Ray replied ‘next Wednesday’ and he shook their hands. The lads seemed to like their new roles, responsibilities and aprons. I then spoke with a couple of the youth workers from CATCH and they described their delight on entering the cafe and seeing an array of young people, all sat politely round the tables, drinking tea, hot chocolate and eating cake and toast. This isn’t the picture of Harehills youth that is often painted. Knowing that our young people have a safe space like this to go to and thrive within feels very important in the times we’re currently living in.



A First Timer’s Review

Gillian Tober reflects on her first visit to TLC this morning; 

I came to ToastLoveCoffee for the first time today and was immediately taken with the restful atmosphere of friendly people with lots of children who were quietly having a very nice time.

The place was infused with a feeling of quiet activity, people meeting old friends and making new friends, exchanging ideas and knowledge of resources, or just having breakfast with hot drinks, toast and pastries.
There is food to take away and games to play, and there is a great cultural mix including local people and people recently arrived, hoping to become local people.
I had come to see a freezer to donate to a recent refugee who has recently moved to an attic flat in Leeds. I was met with enthusiastic offers of help to get this rather huge thing into the car, with the cheerful assistance of two young men, asylum seekers enjoying breakfast and conversation. These two tenacious young men then lifted the freezer up a minute staircase into the attic of a back to back house. 

They were not about to be defeated by the seeming impossibility of the task and they succeeded. The recipient couldn’t thank them enough.

This seemed to epitomise the way that the cafe/meeting place brings together people who help each other and who have a nice time together.

Well done to the lovely TLC team.

So what’s on offer?

New team member Lawrence writes about his week heading up the TLC team:
This week, Tuesday & Thursday were different – no Anna, and as it happens no Anita.  Launched just 2 weeks ago at its new site, I led the teams this week – and by 10am both days, no customers? It feels like this is yet another stage – how is Toast Love Coffee moving on? What’s on offer and are customers buying into the idea?

The six weeks school holidays are here and we’ve only been open for two weeks – how will it work? Would people come with school now closed for summer? Would the regulars keep on coming? Who are we going to continue to attract to the café? Will they come at all?
Well, they did come and my, how many!! 106 customers in just 2 mornings!
And I am taken with how the idea behind TLC is taking effect. The message is simple – let’s not waste food; “feedbelliesnotbins, pay as you feel or with a skill or time…..
Two families arrived first on Tuesday and they stayed most of the morning and they returned on Thursday with more members of the extended family, this time bringing gifts of blackcurrant juice for the children, and tidying up their tables when they left.
A visit from RETAS staff next and in pops a man who wants to graffiti a wall for us – ‘Wake up and smell the coffee’ and shows me an idea he has!
Steve arrives from the local allotment, this time with two others – they are taking a break and are pleased to hear how they could bring us some produce and how they want to invite us to their patch!
Becky brought in a man’s bike to pass on – it was gone within an hour to a very happy taker.
A regular lady with a dog tells me she’s going to source a bowl for dogs to have outside.
Three young sisters aged 5,7 & 9 brought in some herbs that they’ve grown at home and some books they wanted us to keep. The middle girl got the idea behind the café straight away when, munching through some strawberries she said – ‘So it’s like a swap – I’ve brought you herbs and swapped it for a few strawberries’!
Police visitors, those responsible for literally getting the whole CATCH youth and community centre enterprise off the ground, came to look and had a meeting in our cafe space.
I was then told how the adjoining space is going to be used to teach families English – offering childcare as well as the chance to learn English and about the education system here.
And finally as I was leaving, I discovered another project, involving 16 yr olds from NCS through the local school, who were all busy digging paths and laying gravel and wood chippings, volunteering for CATCH – one of their young leaders is working with CATCH to find ways of involving young Muslim women in community projects.
There’s a great deal to be said for community spirit – when they see it works, people get it. There’s so much on offer here and so much for people to offer. And we’re only scratching the surface!

Here We Go Again

This morning, we opened our doors for the second week of business. Last week, especially last Tuesday, had been so busy, so special, such a buzz; surely it wasn’t going to be like that every time… So with nervousness that we had perhaps over catered – thanks to the pile of food given to us by the local Morrisons – 

– we got the coffee on and pottered about waiting to see what the morning would bring. 

Well. 

57 people. 

£111.58 in cash donations.

Two first birthday parties.

One NCT meeting.

Numerous small gatherings of different people chatting together. 

Over 60kg of edible delicious food that was destined for landfill. 

A huge success. A great atmosphere. Big pats on the back. 

Except that….

As we were packing up, one of the mums of the birthday girls received a phone call. There was a new single mum in town, from Albania, like her. This new mum, with a two month old baby, and a seven/eight year old boy, had just been housed in a back-to-back in Harehills. The phone call was from the housing officer to say she had very very little English and could our birthday mum be in touch with her and help her settle in. 

It flicked a switch in all of us. There we were, celebrating, basking in the glory of our third day of business, and not a stone’s throw away was another mum with her kids at an early part of her journey as an asylum seeker in our country. Disorientated, scared, alone. 

We put some food in the car and went off to find them. Having done this a couple of times now, I thought I knew what to expect. 

But I was not prepared to find the little boy sitting on a chair in the road waiting for us. 

I was not prepared to find a fly infestation in the ground floor room, or the washing machine in the dirty basement. Or the state of the bathroom…

The fridge was not in the kitchen, but outside, because the smell was so bad that it was not deemed safe to be used. There was no alternative fridge in the kitchen. On the hottest day of the year so far, with two young children, this woman was expected to create a home in a house with out a fridge in the kitchen.

G4S, and our system for supporting asylum seekers, expected a mum with her baby to live in this-  shame on you. Whoever assigned them that house – shame on you. Whoever took them there and gave them the key- shame on you. 

Without a second’s thought, we packed the family up into the car and took them to the house shared by the birthday girls and their mums. A couple of other Albanian families were hanging out there too, and they welcomed them with kisses, help with the buggy and bags, and offering of food. 

This family’s chances of settling in to Leeds have just been improved ten fold because of the kindness of these other Albanian single mums / determined women / asylum seekers. 

On the BBC news tonight, the new Home Secretary Amber Rudd was talking about engaging communities in settling in new refugees to our country. Lambeth Palace was pictured with the Archbishop of Canterbury talking about welcoming in a Syrian family into his home. Whilst I applaud this initiative to bring the humanitarian face of claiming asylum, I fear that for those systems and businesses that should be providing for these people will never see the humanitarian side of what they should be doing.

The Very Best of British

This week, the cafe opened – hurrah!!!! Tuesday was the big opening and we welcomed over 60 people, served some delicious cakes and we were even featured on Made In Leeds TV’s news programme!

There have been some really fabulous moments, but the one I want to share, and please forgive me for the indulgence, is related to my other passion; tennis.

Last week, on Hovingham Avenue, inner-north-east-Leeds, while final edits were being made to the interior decor, and plates were being washed and put in cupboards, yours truly was actually indulging on a day trip to Wimbledon. Courtesy of my very generous and loving father-in-law, my sister-in-law and I enjoyed a great day out at SW19:

The weather was glorious, Serena was on top form, and we even watched a couple of sets of the men’s doubles semi before catching a late train back home to Leeds. In the afternoon, we treated ourselves to a Pimms rather than the ever-enticing-but-ridiculously-expensive strawberries and cream, and we soak ed in the atmosphere on Henman Hill (or is it Murray Mount) before making our way to Kings Cross. It was a wonderful treat for the both of us, and we remarked how the atmosphere at Wimbledon was truly British, and, really, the very best of British with the manners, good sportsmanship, strawberries and cream, and glorious sunshine.

Back in LS8, this week, I have basked again in ‘the Best of British’; this time, in our hospitality, in our copious cups of tea and coffee being drunk by people who, on the face of it, look like they have nothing in common, but when you hear the glorious sound of the chatter, you realise that there is much much #moreincommon than divides us.This was the Best of British, too.

And to sum it all up? This photo, of one of our core team members, a wonderful Eritrean man currently waiting for the Home Office to accept his asylum claim. Taller than me, he offered to write on the blackboard the offerings in the cafe today. And what had I picked up from The Real Junk Food Network yesterday? That’s right… strawberries and cream🙂

A Fresh Perspective

Today’s post comes from a young lad on work experience with Jill and therefore new to the project. His insight is refreshing and inspiring – thanks Pablo!

Yesterday I visited Toast Love Coffee for the first time. I had previously seen pictures of what the building had looked like before on their website, and when I arrived, it was quite overwhelming, not only to see the vibrant colours used on the building itself but the whole fencing and lawn which had been beautifully decorated and on which many plants and trees had been planted. It was amazing to see the spirit of everyone working on the project, especially as it is a non-profit organisation, which has been developed to aid those who are less fortunate, with their ‘Pay as you Feel’ slogan, and it was truly inspirational to see them be so dedicated to bringing this project to life for no personal gain. It is a truly great atmosphere and I can only imagine that it will be even better when it is filled with people finally having something to eat and bringing the community closer together, and new friendships being developed. 

Today we headed down to the warehouse where all the food for The Real Junk Food Project Leeds is stored, and will later be distributed to all the schools for the Fuel for School program and cafés such as Toast Love Coffee. It was alarming to see how much food is thrown away by supermarkets (in person rather than hearing a figure and having to imagine the quantity of food) in spite of it all being perfectly edible, but similarly gratifying that all the food was now being put to good use and filling the bellies of those who need it most.

Now More Than Ever

Ten days ago…

Ten days ago, I took for granted the security I felt in my own country.

Ten days ago, Jo Cox was alive.

Is it really possible that just Ten Days Ago, Britain felt so very very different?

I want that country back; where we celebrated the Queen’s 90th birthday with Union Jack bunting without a hint of far right nationalism. Where we celebrated England’s progression through to the next round of the Euro 2016 championship, and St George’s flags were flying on cars and out of windows without a hint of far right nationalism.

It feels as if that country is slipping rapidly through our fingers. But we can’t lose all hope. Not yet. We must find a way to share spaces, to listen to each other honestly, to be prepared for difficult conversations, to perhaps disagree on most things, but try really really hard to find the things in common.

And disagree with dignity and with respect.

Now, more than ever, more safe, neutral, warm, welcoming spaces need to be created across our country.

Now, more than ever, ToastLoveCoffee needs to be open for business. Good job we are nearly there now…