Picnic Project
The Picnic project started in 2017 as an initiative to distribute fresh food to children and young people attending ENYP clubs and activities and to provide fresh food parcels to families in need.
As a result of our work with families and seeing the emerging needs within local communities and in the area of food poverty we have seen the project grow in the last few years to support increasing numbers of children, young people, families and individuals.
Our partnerships with supermarkets, restaurants and suppliers through food donation schemes enable us to distribute food to vulnerable families and individuals, providing them with fresh food to create wholesome meals to support their households. Over the last few years we have developed our partnerships and more organisations have been engaged in our work and through this additional support we have seen the reach of our Picnic project expand. We are extremely thankful to all those who contribute to this project.
The Picnic Project runs as five distinct areas
Picnic Parcels
Delivery of emergency and regular fresh food parcels to families and individuals who are vulnerable and suffering from food poverty, financial hardship and unable to meet the basic needs of providing food for their households. Beneficiaries also include those who have experienced the devastating impact on their ability to provide food for their households due to Covid-19. Since the Covid-19 outbreak we have increased our deliveries by 430%. Parcels include fruit and vegetables, bread, bakery items, chicken and tinned/cupboards items to support households in providing healthy meals.
“We’ve been isolated and unable to get out, you’ve really supported my family and kept us going”
Picnic Grocery
Picnic Grocery has a longer term strategy of addressing some of the underlying causes of food poverty, supporting individuals and families to implement learning in their budgeting and sourcing of food. There is also emphasis on building supportive relationships within the community which helps to improve people’s overall wellbeing, build social networks and reduce social isolation. Beneficiaries will pay a nominal weekly contribution to access the scheme and select items they would like from the grocery – including a range of fresh produce (fruit, vegetables, bakery items), meat and tinned produce.
Building Relationships and addressing underlying causes of Food Poverty
Picnic Table
Picnic Table focuses on gathering people together and providing a safe and welcoming atmosphere to meet with others, create community and share food. These meals may be provided as outreach opportunities to engage with people, lunch clubs, or community meals for the whole family. By providing wholesome meals, and creating a sense of family and community, we are helping to support overall wellbeing and reduce isolation.
Gathering Families and Creating Community with Wholesome meals and Healthy Eating
Picnic Hamper
Picnic Hamper is a creative way of providing food at either a specific time of year (e.g. Christmas Hampers) or for an occasion that helps to create an experience for an individual or a family. It is focused on more than providing food to meet a need, its helping to create and make memories which bring people together – whether this be a Christmas dinner or an afternoon in the park.
“Thank you for the hamper and gifts, you don’t know how much this meant to us, it was lovely to see the children happy”