The Pantry is a new community-run café and cookery school set up by London’s Community Kitchen, based in Wembley. Proceeds from the café go towards helping local communities fight food insecurity.
City of Westminster College and College of North West London supported learners make up the kitchen and front of house staff on rotation, as part of an employment training pathway and accreditation.
As well as providing teas, soft drinks and barista-style coffee, the students also build on their hospitality skills by creatively transforming produce, which would otherwise be thrown away, into delicious sandwiches and lunch options for customers. This produce is donated each day from companies including Marks & Spencer, Amazon and the recently opened Grand Union Co-Op store.
The café was officially launched with a welcome event on 2nd April, where Leader of the Council for Brent, Muhammed Butt, was among the attendees first to try The Pantry’s delicious food and engage with the supported learners.
Stephen Davis, CEO and Group Principal of United Colleges Group, said: “London’s Community Kitchen and St George have been exceptional partners to the college and a pleasure to work alongside.
I’m particularly impressed by the students and staff involved in The Pantry, who have provided us with a marvellous example of how the world of work is available to everyone. This venture also demystifies disability for those who, in many walks of life, have no experience of it. Projects like this are pivotal to breaking down barriers and stereotypes to help us be a more inclusive society.”
David, a United Colleges Group student, said: "During my work experience at the café, I’ve learned important skills such as food preparation, teamwork, time management and keeping the kitchen clean and safe. The staff are supportive, and the skills I’m learning have made me more confident and prepared to work in kitchens, cafes, or any job where teamwork, organisation, and communication are important. The experience has helped me decide which jobs I enjoy, what I am good at, and what kind of work makes me feel happy.”
London’s Community Kitchen is founded by former Corden Bleu chef, Taz Khan MBE, and is a ‘zero waste, zero hunger’ charity. Each week, it supports 25,000 individuals, and intercepts around 75 metric tonnes of food from going to landfill, as well as delivering courses on healthy food and nutrition.
The Pantry will form part of the new canal-side community being delivered by St George, comprising 3,350 homes, of which 35% are affordable.