Over the past couple of weeks, I have been really upset and angry that Bwyd Da Bangor, the ethically and environmentally sustainable café/restaurant run by North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC) and located on the high street of Bangor, is being forced to close. I know that members of NWRC and staff and volunteers at Bwyd Da Bangor are not only very upset, but deeply frustrated. Let me explain.
James Deakin, Founder of NWRC, was originally approached and commissioned by Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board (BCUHB) and partners to develop and maintain Bwyd Da Bangor. Despite the initial assurance of ongoing financial support, which initially materialised to support the establishment of the café, the level of funding support originally identified as being necessary has not materialised. In addition, the possibility of obtaining additional/alternative funding has become increasingly challenging. This has placed James Deakin and his colleagues in a very difficult position and leaves them with no alternative to closure, unless more funding suddenly arrives.
There has been a huge outcry from the local community and further afield. I now add a voice from Western Australia. Last year, James organised ‘An Evening With David Clark’ at Bwyd Da Bangor, where I gave two talks, either side of the most amazing meal. Memories of that evening will remain with me for the rest of my life. [Check the film below]. I loved everything about Bwyd Da Bangor, and all that people there and at NWRC are trying to achieve. The atmosphere and kindness I experienced was something very, very special.
Last Thursday evening, a public meeting was held at Bwyd Da Bangor, where James and colleagues explained the situation and tried to answer the audience’s questions. No doubt there have been further developments since then. Today and tomorrow, I post two blogs about this appalling situation, whilst I sit back and wonder how on earth members of Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board have acted in such an inappropriate manner.
Here, I include words from a document prepared by members of NWRC (please see link below) to show you the exciting nature of Bwyd Da Bangor, which opened in November 2021. [Please see Bangor University’s website page focused on this opening and the underlying initiative.]
‘What is Bwyd Da Bangor?
Bwyd Da Bangor (Good Food Bangor) is an ethically and environmentally sustainable café/restaurant on the high street of the University city of Bangor.
Established in 2021, it has quickly developed a strong reputation locally for serving tasty, healthy and affordable meals, as well as running a range of community-focused events. This reputation is demonstrated in having secured a 4.7/5 rating on Google with over 170 reviews, as well as a rating of 4.5/5 on Trip Advisor based on 39 reviews.
Social Impacts of Bwyd Da Bangor
Bwyd Da Bangor is an innovative multi-agency initiative that aims to address several key themes, whilst creating a go-to location in the centre of Bangor. Building on the success of comparable projects elsewhere, Bwyd Da Bangor combines a membership-based food share programme, re-distributing surplus supermarket stock, with a high-quality training café. The café also plays a crucial role in supporting the continued recovery of individuals coming through the Penrhyn House Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation centre or those who are currently living in homeless accommodation in Bangor, offering structured and long-term employment along with qualifications and skills development. Approximately 40% of the workforce are individuals in recovery and rehabilitation.
Bwyd Da Bangor addresses several priority areas, including:
- Supporting food production and reducing the carbon footprint.
- Alleviating food poverty.
- Helping to eradicate food waste.
- Contributing to the economic regeneration of Bangor City Centre.
- Creating employment and volunteering opportunities.
- Helping individuals move on from homelessness.
- Supporting individuals coming through drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
The café provides reliable and supportive employment that is conducive to the ongoing rehabilitation of individuals with complex backgrounds such as homelessness, drug and substance misuse. The café has also intentionally created an identity that does not overtly emphasise the background of the individuals they support, on the basis that this provides opportunity to work in an environment free of labels, stigma and biases that can often be present in society towards such groups which often face a lack of sympathy.
Food Surplus Club
Bwyd Da Bangor also has a wider impact in supporting vulnerable individuals and families in the local area. The Food Surplus Club has a membership of 190 households experiencing food poverty and deprivation. Each week in return for a £5 membership the team distribute approximately £20 worth of food, whilst alleviating food waste at the same time.
Community Hub
Bwyd Da serves an active community hub for the general public, hosting regular community events throughout the year in an attempt to contribute to the social cohesion of the locality and instigate positive change on the high street. The location also hosts meetings for a number of marginalised groups:
• Monday afternoons – “Sporting Memories” dementia clinic
• Monday evenings – Alcoholics Anonymous
• Tuesday evenings – Cocaine Anonymous
• Wednesday evenings – Narcotics Anonymous
• Periodic events throughout year – Autistic Dining for families
Despite the challenges it has faced, Bwyd Da Bangor has delivered the following (I’ve changed some wording in this section):
- 39% of paid employees are individuals in rehabilitation for issues such as substance misuse and/or rehabilitation after leaving prison.
- 18 employees who are paid at least the Real Living Wage.
- 3,225 training days to support skills development and potential of the individuals at Bawd Da Bangor
- 1,344 work experience weeks to support and enable individuals to up-skill and transition into structured, paid employment.
- 24,192 hours of support through volunteers, who are proactive in supporting the wider community, particularly families that are or at risk of experiencing food poverty.
- 75,400kg of food redistributed to families living on the poverty line through the food waste redistribution service.
- 71,630 meals distributed through their food waste distribution service, supporting families and households facing substantial food poverty.
- 190 households living in food poverty are members of the food surplus club, where they have weekly access to affordable surplus food.
- 936 hours hosting meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
- 112 hours hosting Bangor Sporting Memories Club, supporting people showing signs of dementia.’
I will follow up with more information tomorrow. If you want to learn more now, please check out the following document:
> Bwyd Da Bangor – Social Impacts and Current Challenges
Campaign to Save Bwyd Da Bangor
