Community project uses bread baking to connect with disadvantaged communities

Breaking bread has long been used to forge links with one another...and now a project at Teesside University is using baking to connect people from diverse backgrounds.

The Big River Bakery runs workshops to engage local people and students feeling isolated.

The bakery was established to work closely with BAME communities and BAME led organisations living and working locally and aims to address the needs of the communities nearby and also help in their ambitions to develop food businesses.

Managed and run by Big River Bakery the bakery’s aims are the same as those of Newcastle’s – to support and offer greater opportunities for communities who have been disadvantaged.  

The bakery’s first bread deliveries have been made to Ubuntu Multicultural Centre on Clifton street in Middlesbrough recently.Irene Kabuye, the Centre Coordinator of Ubuntu Multicultural Centre, is a poverty campaigner and been working with bakery manager Fran to help to bridge the gap between the university and the local community.

She said, “Thank you so much, our communities got to enjoy fresh bread. The response from the community to the first two deliveries is that the children noticed the difference and want more. Really looking forward to baking more very soon.’’

With home baking kits, the bakery's also reached out to refugees, unemployed people and students with online tutorials. 

Mahesh is a student and said "This could be a leisure time activity as well as us save some money! So I think that is very important for students like me and i love cooking and making so this is also an opportunity to showcase my skills."

A micro project with room to rise, who wouldn't want a slice of it?