The idea
We want to expand the offering of Eden Cafe (a vegan cafe) in Witney so that it provides, as well as delicious, planet-friendly food, a community hub for climate and social justice activities including:
a freezer of love (where people can purchase meals for those in need and have them frozen ready to distribute/ heat for consumption) and space for surplus distribution/ free meals for those in need
signposting to support wellbeing activities and welcoming units like citizens advice and samaritans to share the space
dedicated family space in the cafe including discreet free meal program
Establish winter warm space activity regime included seated exercise
Waste Innovation Station exhibits around building climate resilience together as a unit
speed dating and other social events offered at low/ no cost to the community
for Eden cafe fans don't fret, we plan on still having the delicious and planet friendly food on site, just adding a bit of space for a community hub
What we'll deliver
- Establish a freezer of love open to all in Witney to increase access to nutritional plant based foods for those in need
- Waste Innovation Station Climate Action exhibits helping people make more sustainable choices
- Provide meals at no/low cost to the community after cafe hours
- Open for climate speed dating and other social events outside cafe hours
- Open space for other community organisations to meet or speak with people at cafe
- Institute a "pay it forward" system for meals and other amenities
- Create a family space
- Revamp the menu to include transparency about the benefits of the vegan diet for the planet
- Support well being activities for the community on site within 6 months.
Why it's a great idea
The benefits are threefold:
1. Support the continued success of Eden Cafe
2. Support Witney community to have an open access hub with no barriers/ means testing
3. Support grassroots climate resilience building in Witney
Steps to get it done
- Clearing front freezer so it can become freezer of love
- Streamlining menu
- Installing planters for kitchen herb garden
- recruiting volunteers for extended hours
- installing educational exhibits around food waste in the space
- Youth night (silent disco or music will reach out to local schools and youth groups for what they want)
After hearing about the possibility of losing Witney’s much loved Eden Café, we knew we had to act to save this vegan hub and community gem. The current owner, Becs, has been looking to sell or close the café (as a last resort) to focus on her health and recovery from recent treatment for breast cancer.
It’s very important to Becs, and many of the regular customers of Eden, that the cafe retains its core vegan ethos and continues to support the local community. We want to continue building on the strong foundations that Becs and the Eden Café team have established over the last 10 years. Adding to community initiatives, such as being a registered Safe Places location and hosting regular Oxfordshire Parkinson’s UK social meet ups. We want to use the goodwill it has built up to introduce even more people to good plant-based food, build climate resilience together, and make a warm space with a “freezer of love” to prevent food waste, and to increase community well being.
