Many small towns are mourning the loss of their community centre. Whether it was a pub, bank, post office or GP surgery, these places are disappearing too quickly from our high streets.
But one town in south-east Cornwall has redeveloped its own centre, a town fit for a caring community that looks to the future as well as mourns the past.
What started as a purely information centre for people in Saltash, first grew into a gift shop. But it snowballed, first into an innovative scheme to share food that would otherwise be wasted, and then into the suite of initiatives that form Community Enterprises PL12 (CEPL12).
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As well as helping to feed the villagers and reduce food waste, the Community Interest Company aims to prevent people from feeling isolated by providing a warm meeting place, transport and social activities, staffed by friendly volunteers.
Although CEPL12 was founded before the pandemic, it was Covid that really put the not-for-profit initiative at the heart of the Saltash community. Since opening two years ago, The Kitchen has exceeded the expectations of the passionate group of volunteers who conceived the idea, welcoming hundreds of visitors and serving dozens of meals each week.
But it is the ability to provide food for the soul that truly motivates the volunteer directors and dozens of other helpers who now make up the organization.
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Community kitchen manager Chris Cook said the Fore Street premises was originally a cafe that closed suddenly before the pandemic. CEPL12 saw an opportunity to use the premises as a community kitchen, using surplus food and providing a place where people could not only come for a meal but also learn to cook healthy and economical meals for themselves.
Once the site for the project was secured, a huge community effort was launched. Chris said: “The whole place was fitted out thanks to donations from volunteers. Weatherheads, a local shopfitting company, did their part at no cost with the help of Hubbub and The Co-Op. Companies like HBH Woolacott were then approached and continue to help provide the electrical equipment needed.”
Now The Kitchen provides meals to all who come three days a week, and also caters for community groups using the centre. It runs cooking classes and even hosts community get-togethers, all the while nurturing its ethos of collaboration, encouraging new ideas and emphasising the learning of life skills.
Chris said that sometimes people were initially reluctant to come through the doors of The Kitchen, feeling that it wasn’t for everyone. Many also don’t realise that it could be the lifeline they need; not just for a hot meal, but to make friends and regain their confidence.
He said: “There was a man who was homeless and had suffered a family tragedy which had separated him from his wife. He had been a corporate executive but had lost his job and was living on the streets. We put him in touch with our Social Prescriber who works here and who helped him find shelter. How now has a new job and a new life and says he is convinced we saved him.
The kitchen’s menu changes constantly, depending on what ingredients are available. One day it might be Italian themed, the next day Indian or simply Cornish, depending on what is available and fresh. Volunteers also bake dozens of homemade pies from donated ingredients to serve with hot drinks.
CEPL12 is run by a board of directors with over 120 volunteers, 1,200 members and only three paid staff: the kitchen and business managers and the cleaner.
Melanie Cowie Smith, Volunteer Public Relations Director, said: The Community Fridge & Larder was founded in 2019 and was born from the idea of Sho Frank, one of CEPL12’s volunteers, who wanted to reduce the amount of food waste.
“We receive food donations that cannot be sold and distribute them from a stall outside The Kitchen and through a mobile pantry that delivers food to families who are struggling and cannot travel to the city centre.
It has become an essential service, used by around 70 people every day the bank is open. But it is not a food bank: everyone is invited to collect food and prevent food waste.”
The Community Shop, two doors down from The Kitchen, not only sells items produced by local artists, makers and charities, but also acts as the administrative headquarters for CEPL12. It is also an unofficial tourist information centre for Saltash, with a large noticeboard advertising community events, trips on the local bus service, and tickets for local festival events.
CEPL12 directors say they are constantly looking for their next ‘big thing’ and developing ways to make Saltash a dementia-friendly champion.
Melanie said: “We already run Memory Box (formerly Dementia Voice) to provide support and activities for people with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, particularly dementia.
But our team is working with Saltash Council to ensure the area becomes more dementia friendly. Our aim is to create a dementia friendly environment in the PL12 area and promote the idea that it is possible to live well with this condition.”
CEPL12 hosts a number of events throughout the week which you can find on their website, from mental health groups to eco-friendly craft workshops.
All services are free, but donations are welcome to support their continuity.
For more information about CEPL12, visit https://www.cepl12.co.uk
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