3food4u
A warm and social place for Epping Forest residents
3Food4U offer social and warm spaces that are open four times a month to locals in the area, providing a variety of activities for those living in social isolation. Taking pride in being a dementia friendly organisation, they are inclusive for all individuals.
Due to the cost-of-living crisis and long-term health conditions, groups like these are a vital part of the community, offering residents a lifeline. They provide a range of holistic services to support community wellbeing, including free Counselling/coaching, health & wellbeing support and NHS health checks, Job Club, Food Education Classes and Numeracy skills training.
2022 winners of the BBC Essex 'Make a Difference' award, 3Food4U run their 3Social&WarmPlace4U and 3Social&MemoryCafe4U initiatives across Chigwell, Loughton, Ongar, and Waltham Abbey, through volunteer efforts, as well as provide food education classes and community surplus hubs.
3Food4U received funding and support from Active Essex through Find Your Active funding, which helped to expand their classes and offer them to more residents. In addition to funding, Active Essex also supported the agency with suggestions and ideas, regular contact and activity attendance.
Launched at their popular venue in Loughton, 3Social&MemoryCafe4U attendees are able to take part in a whole host of activities from singing and dancing to yoga. These sessions provide a great place and comfortable location to bring the community together and get them moving whilst enjoying a chat over some refreshments.
A 6-week beginner and advanced classes on food education were provided by 3Food4U throughout last year at all Hubs across Epping Forest. It’s their aim to make residents feel like they can be healthy by choice and not by chance, learning valuable cooking skills and understanding how to cook on a budget, whilst meeting new people at the same time.
In addition, 3Food4U partner with YES (Youth Employment Strategy) to help motivate, inspire, and encourage students to improve their employability skills. They work with students from six schools across Epping Forest and deliver Motivation (MOT) Conferences and World of Work (WOW) Conferences for Year 9 pupils, as well as hold networking opportunities with local businesses for Year 10 students at Waltham Abbey Marriott Hotel.
They have plans in place to start more sessions and adapt the ones they have with the offer of more physical activities helping provide something that everyone can enjoy.
