We at West End Impact know the importance of eating well is often lost when people are in difficulties, whether the difficulty people are going through is borne of economic, physical or mental reasons, or a combination of it all. Everyone deserves and needs a helping hand every so often, and that is what we give people.
We give people nutritious meals and a warm place to come and socialise twice a week.
We offer breakfast, and a two course lunch on Thursdays (10 am – 1 pm) and lunch on Sundays (1.30 – 3 pm).
Breakfast is self service, with toast, tea, juice and coffee on offer. It is served from 10 am.
Lunch is a hot main, and a dessert, both of which are delicious and very filling. It is served from 11.30 to 1pm. There are regular volunteers, who deliver the food, working hard to serve others but never losing their good humour.
It is through the kindness of our volunteers, and local businesses who donate food that we are able to feed on average thirty people a week in each sitting.
Advice
There is a drop in session open to all, where you can get help and advice on a range of different topics, which are important to the residents of the West End.
Each person who comes in seeking advice, is given the information in a one on one session. Each conversation is treated with strict confidentiality, and the person receiving the information is given the option of receiving further support. The team will phone and email the relevant departments on your behalf if that is what you need, or photocopy documents, and help with form filling. Each conversation is directed by you, the person needing help and advice, the volunteers take the cue from you.
Rachel, Lisa and Tracy offer advice about benefits, which is important to many people. It can be difficult to find enough time to discuss things with people in the job centre, and so we offer one on one time for anyone that needs it.
A recent addition to the team of volunteers offering advice is Clair.
Clair runs a period poverty bank, giving concrete support and knowledge on issues specific to women. She hands out tampons, sanitary towels and will help those suffering period related illnesses to deal with medical staff. She is very knowledgeable and approachable, and offers the service regularly as well as advising the West End Health Centre.
It is very important, and inspired one person to write a poem about their feelings
The Real People
In they come through the door, slopping their tea across the floor
but we don't mind just mop it up, they can always go and refill their cups.
We give them food, information, advice, cos basically it's nice to be nice.
At times it tests us and we ask ourselves, why?
But I've seen despair, we've seen them cry.
So on they go, we watch them leave, we hope they find peace, we have to believe.
Young and old, weak and feeble, we won't stop doing this,
as they are real people.
