Alabare

Gwynt-y-Môr supported  Alabre in the purchase of a mobile catering unit aka Field Kitchen.  The aim of the Field Kitchen, a mobile catering unit, is to provide great street food to the communities in Conwy whilst providing a safe and supportive environment for ex-Armed Forces Personnel who have been homeless and now in supported housing, a space to reskill, train and return to employment.

As of May 2022, Alabre have engaged with 7 of their veterans’ as volunteers. To date , 5 as cooking assistants and 2 as general assistants helping with setting up the Kitchen.  Throughout the development of the Field Kitchen it has been a challenge to engage some veterans, much being associated with their own circumstances post covid.  The pandemic significantly affected many, from impacting on self confidence, mental health, struggling to engage in the wider society and in some cases regressing their PTSD.

However, those who engaged really benefitted from being part of “Field Kitchen.” Being a part of the cooking team and assisting in and around created a sense of togetherness.  One individual engaged as part of his care pathway towards independent living and worked with Field Kitchen preparing  pizza’s.  This created structure and routine in the workplace, helped develop his CV and return to work programme thereby reducing poverty and inequality. This individual subsequently secured employment with the windfarm.  This in itself promotes “stronger communities in North Wales, creating economic growth and retains within the community skills sets learned from within.

Gwynt-y-Môr & RWE are delighted to have been apart of the project and look forward to the next chapter in the Field Kitchen story.