Bringing the community together in warm, welcoming and fun space
As the cost of living continues to rise, the staff at St Pancras Community Association (SPCA) are working hard to support as many local residents as possible. The community centre is a thriving hub of activity all week – but on a Tuesday and Thursday, you’ll find around 50 residents enjoying the centre’s Community Kitchen and Warm Space project.
We spoke to Angela, Diana, and Joanne from SPCA to find out more.
Angela is the Director at SPCA. She told us:
“We’ve really accelerated what we’re doing here at SPCA to address the cost of living crisis. A donation from some generous community members initially helped us to set up the Community Kitchen and Warm Space project and funding from Camden Council, including the Cost of Living Crisis Community Response Fund, has helped us to keep it going.”
“The project is so much more than a hot meal and free drink in a warm welcoming environment. It’s a place where both adults and children have made friends and it connects the community to alleviate loneliness. It’s also a space where people feel safe to talk and can be signposted to further advice and help if they need it.”
“It’s a place where both adults and children have made friends and it connects the community to alleviate loneliness.”
Angela, Director at SPCA
Joanne is the project’s chef who cooks around 40 to 50 free meals every session. She told us:
“I used to come to the project with my son and they [SPCA] needed someone to take over the cooking and it fitted into my life nicely. I don’t see it as a job, it’s fun and I’ve made lots of friends here. My son still comes with me – it’s hard to get him home because he loves it so much!”
“It’s somewhere that people feel a sense of belonging,a part of a community.”
Diana, Community Kitchen and Warm Space coordinator
Diana is the project coordinator. She told us:
“The space is a nice place to come – it’s somewhere that people feel a sense of belonging, a part of a community.”
“We run activities for kids, playing games like Grandmother’s Footsteps and the parachute game. When the weather’s nice we go out into the playground so the children can get fresh air and exercise. One of the children said to me recently ‘This is the best place ever! I wish it was open every day’ – I love hearing feedback like that.”
“Residents come here and don’t have to worry for a couple of hours and that is so important, especially when it’s cold. Coming here saves them from using gas and electricity at home and if they’re running low on food or can’t afford it, they can eat here.”
“One parent said to me ‘This is the first time I’ve felt full in a long time’. It reminded me that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover – we assumed mum and her family were okay, but it’s by providing services like this that we realise what’s happening behind closed doors in this crisis.”
To find out more about projects running at St Pancras Community Association, visit spca.org.uk
SPCA received support from the Council’s Cost of Living Crisis Community Response Fund | Learn more about the fund.
Cost of living support
If you’re struggling with the rising cost of living, help is available. Visit camden.gov.uk/find-support-in-camden
