A healthy lunch club has been given a new lease of life thanks to the support of corporate volunteers. Each month a different team of employees from a local business takes on the task of rustling up a 3-course vegetarian lunch at Penfold Community Hub. The new Healthy Cook and Eat Lunch Club launched on Friday 5 October with a volunteer team from tech firm, Cirrus Logic.

The colleagues drew on their cultural background and favourite recipes to design a menu which utilised seasonal produce, including beetroot and plenty of herbs from the Penfold garden. They worked alongside two local older residents to peel, chop and grate a colourful selection of vegetables from which soup and a warming lentil stew were created, followed by a homemade plum cake served with ice cream.

The twenty guests all sat at a long table decorated with flowers from the garden and there was a party atmosphere in the air as everyone chatted away, whilst tucking into the delicious meal.

“We were treated like royalty - the way the table was laid out and the wonderful food. All the Helpers sat and joined in whilst we ate and we had a great chat”

Rita, Cook and Eat lunch guest.

“I was very impressed by the commitment of the volunteers to the event – none of the group had volunteered before but they had a great ability to work alongside our Cook and Eat volunteers and chat with the guests, who were so impressed with the occasion. They will be talking about it for days and weeks to come.”

Denis Kane, Penfold Community Hub, Activities Manager.

The regular lunch club will fall on the first Friday of every month. November and December already have volunteer chefs signed up, but if you would like to book your spot in the kitchen for 2019, please contact our Community Programme Manager, Emily.