“Food is integral to what we do at the Avenues Youth Project”
The Avenues Youth Project, W10, welcomes young people from every community in West London to a fun, creative space where they can discover new passions, skills and friends.
The youth project receives weekly free food donations from City Harvest which helps to support children and families who struggle to afford food. Food donations are also used as learning tools, where children can learn to cook healthy meals as part of the after-school offering.
Programme Manager, Marcus, explains just how vital the free food provision is to the young people at The Avenues Youth Project: “If you want to get young people in the building, offer them food”
“Of all of our programs, we believe if you’ve got a child, he’s fed, they’re they’re a little more focused, a little more concentrated. And as well, there’s so many young people and families that are sort of going through food poverty and may just look like they’re thriving. So where we can offer a meal, food or snacks to our young people, we always do”
Between 3 – 10 December, help City Harvest deliver an extra 800,000 meals to children this winter by doubling your donation here.
The right food is vital for kids to thrive, not merely survive
In City Harvest’s latest Value to People Report, we explore the role of nutritious food for physical, mental and community health. For children, it’s vital that they can access the right food from a young age, to promote healthy early years development, social skills and improve educational attainment. The Avenues Youth Project, like several City Harvest’s community partners, encourage communal meals, healthy snacks and use food as a way of better understanding the community’s needs.
The Avenues Youth Project provides free and subsidised extra-curricular activities for young people in the local community. The youth project’s purpose-built centre on Third Avenue, W10 has a sports hall, dance studio, music recording studio, radio room, training kitchen and art studio.
40% of London children are currently food insecure
Without proper nutrition, children can face severe, irreversible changes in development: weak immune systems, stunted growth, and a higher risk of heart disease. Hunger affects mental health, concentration at school and chances later in life.
City Harvest provides nourishing food to children facing hunger and malnutrition. We rescue food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it for free to local children’s organisations across London.
“Noone should be going hungry”
From 3 December to 10 December 2024, you can DOUBLE your donation to City Harvest via Big Give Christmas Challenge and have twice the impact on London children facing food poverty. Donate here.
