Community Engagement and Cafes

As part of our community engagement, we host the following events on a weekly basis. 

If you would like to attend any of the sessions please email sonia.lard@redbridge.gov.uk

 

Coffee mornings at Hainault Forest Community Association

These are held every Tuesday from 10am to 12pm at Hainault Forest Community Centre (next to the library), 100 Manford Way, Ilford, Chigwell, IG7 4DF. 

The café at Hainault Forest Community Association is designed to encourage conversation, support you to connect and reduce loneliness and social isolation.

Citizens Advice Redbridge attend weekly supporting you with advice on various matters including housing, benefits, employment and debt including free appointments and referrals.

Redbridge CVS are also attending weekly including other community support services.

 

The Café at Loxford

This is held every Sunday from 11.30am to 3pm at Loxford Polyclinic,

The Café at Loxford has been created to provide those residents experiencing social isolation a place to come to socialise, connect, and chat with other members of the local community.

The sessions will also offer you the chance to talk to council officers about different health and wellbeing matters as well as any cost of living concerns.

Free food and refreshments are provided throughout the day as well as arts and crafts activities, free legal advice and benefits support.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from attending The Café, then please do visit us or share details of the session.

 

Perfect Mix

This is held every Monday from 12pm to 3pm at Cranbrook Children’s Centre (EYPad), The Drive, Ilford, IG1 3PS.

This is a free weekly community cooking and socialising initiative connecting refugees and asylum seekers with residents through cooking.

This is an opportunity for you to meet, prepare and eat lunch together with refugees and asylum seekers who have been placed in the borough in temporary accommodation.

It is also a great opportunity to make new friends, support families suffering from hardship and provide access to healthy nutritious meals.

If you are in contact with the asylum seekers or refugee community who would benefit from this then please contact sonia.lard@redbridge.gov.uk(External link) to book a space.

Feedback from residents who attend Perfect Mix

"We were very happy to see the relaxing and atmosphere and feel proud to see that I'm welcomed everyday regardless of race and religion. It's lovely to see that age and culture bonding together."

"How kind strangers can be, how it's good to try and be myself, hopefully others out of isolation, met some lovely people."

"I have learn that I'm not alone I don’t want to struggling alone, I have got staff and volunteers who support me in any way they can."