Building Futures East delivers a range of employability, vocational, and personal development, training and work experience opportunities to individuals in disadvantaged communities in the Newcastle area.
Our ethos is one of local delivery of high quality, intensive one-to-one support, training and other health, wellbeing and specialist support, underpinned by a philosophy of compassion and service. Most of our services are free at the point of delivery, and are offered in direct response to needs identified and communicated by the communities we support.
At the outset of the Covid pandemic in April 2020, we established ourselves as a central hub for food delivery to disadvantaged families in Walker and Byker. This was in direct response to needs expressed by local schools who had to close during lockdown and who had families who would usually have been eligible to receive free school meals for their children. We responded swiftly and mobilised a team of volunteers who assisted in distributing meals to low income families with children. Very quickly however, the issue of food poverty escalated not least because of the job losses that increased as a direct result of the pandemic.
Today, as the UK cost of living crisis deepens and many more families fall into fuel and food poverty, inward referrals for our food support are increasing yet again.
We are running this campaign to fund transformation of a double decker bus to provide a quirky greenhouse space, where as well as growing fresh nutritious produce, local residents can sow the seeds of hope and contribute to the creation of a food oasis and vibrant social hub.
Involvement in this exciting initiative will also deliver physical and mental health benefits and reduce social isolation.
Our bountiful bus will be open to all, offering the opportunity for both young and old to share experiences and learning.
