WHAT WE DO

Gratitude saves food from waste and use it to benefit people in need in the community, via social gatherings that are educational in terms of healthy life style and waste awareness.

Our main outlet is St. Theresa parish hall in Borehamwood, Hertsmere, where we run weekly community cooking and sharing. As an act of ‘giving back’ to the church who never charges us for the use of the hall, we have turned a neglected area in front of it into a sensory garden for the community. The garden opened on 23rd March, 2013, by Hertsmere Mayor, Cllr Martin Worster. The garden was put together from recycled materials and donations from local businesses and organizations and will be suitable for disabled users.

We also, cook with few local charities for adults with special needs such as Norwood and Mencap. Occasionally we run activities with scouts groups.

The food is saved from waste from local shops. Gratitude’s volunteers then help the service users in activities like peeling, chopping, and cooking – all skills that they are not usually trained in. Also the sense of cooking together means a lot to them, as they never take part in making a meal. When all done, we sit down together, serve each others and shares ideas, stories and any light conversation.

We all tidy everything together; washing dishes and packing any extra food in boxes to give away or take-away for friends. Gratitude volunteers then send everyone away with extra groceries that weren’t used in the meal preparation.

Our Team

Founder and Director – John Carlisle

Co-Founder and Community Development Officer – Sheila Carlisle

Treasurer and Admin – Debra Schiman

Significant Volunteers – Sasha Capocci, Irmine Johns, Lucy Tan, Enid Blair, Grace Brown, Cllr David, Barcombe, Kamlesh Patel, Gomati Dasi

Facebook: GratitudeUK108

YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UKE-Odnvns

Contact: [email protected] / 0044 (0)7456 737767

SHINE AWARD WINNER 2013

Shine awards 2013 awarded to Gratitude Project coordinator Sheila Carlisle. Shine Awards are about celebrating and recognising residents who go that extra mile to make a positive difference where they live. The Shine Awards 2013 was held at the National Residents Council in Leeds on November 8th, 2013.

Sheila dedicates most of her day helping others, breaking the mould of service to the community. She is more than just a meals-on-wheels, as she grows food and takes donations, creating a diverse array of meals and then drives them around Borehamwood to individuals and groups in the community that are in need. Sheila welcomes people into her home to share in the food she makes and won’t let a visitor go home hungry or without a smile.

http://www.affinitysutton.com/for-residents/get-involved/shine-awards/shine-awards-2013/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UKE-Odnvns