The idea
Our existing kitchen is around 40yrs old, having been installed in the early 1980s, when the Grove Neighbourhood Centre (GNC) was set up as a local community charity, and private company limited by guarantee, and is non-profit making. In 2019 the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham assigned the freehold of the building occupied by the Centre, to the Centre itself, to ensure its continuity for providing a service to local residents. We are keen to update our existing kitchen into a modern and thriving community kitchen. Both fittings and appliances need updating. The kitchen is widely used by the local community, in particular the Friday Lunch Club to provide a low cost two course meal for local residents, and an opportunity to socialise, as well as a variety of other users. The GNC is also keen to maintain its Health and Safety standards and prevent the risk of infection. The GNC is completely self-funded and we rely on income from the hire of our Halls and Rooms.
What we'll deliver
- Transform an outdated Kitchen into a modern, efficient & ergonomic layout
- Make it more attractive to a wider community and users, as well as more opportunities fro volunteering
- Improve community cohesion and combat social isolationism
- Improve health and safety standards
Why it's a great idea
This kitchen project will make a positive impact on our community, offering more opportunity to increase the numbers who use our space, once the facilities are improved. A more functional and practical kitchen area will make catering for community events easier. We asked our current volunteer cooks what they would like to see happen, and they all agreed that these improvements are necessary and would benefit the community. On average the kitchen is hired out for approximately 30 hours per week. Regular groups include Alcoholic Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Toddlers Group and Friday and Iraqi Lunch Clubs. Yoga, Pilates, Drama, Dance classes, Art Classes, and Workshops are also users of the kitchen. One of our largest hires is for Children’s Parties, where catering can sometimes be for up to 60 people, so a fully functional kitchen would be a major attraction.
Steps to get it done
- Refurbished kitchen up and running by end of August 2025
