United Communities is proud to share the latest development at The Phoenix Centre, one of our community hubs in Bognor Regis, with the opening of a new community powered café. Run and managed by food waste and food education charity UKHarvest, the café builds on the strengths, skills and generosity already present locally. By widening access to affordable, nutritious food, the café supports residents while ensuring that every pound spent helps UKHarvest continue its vital work rescuing and redistributing surplus food.
Nourish Hub Café offers a range of delicious meals and snacks at very affordable prices. The food offering is seasonal with the menu regularly updated to ensure a variety of dishes are offered. It is hoped that in time all the food served at the café will be made from surplus food, collected for free by UKHarvest from local farmers, food distributors and supermarkets, but the café already has a selection of homemade cakes and snacks available, created using donated surplus food.
Simon Thresher, UKHarvest’s Head of Operations, Logistics and Compliance, is currently managing Nourish Hub Café. Simon said:
“Our mission is to make healthy nutritious food available to everyone. Following the success of our café in London, Nourish Hub, and thanks to the amazing partnership we have developed with Emma and the team at The Phoenix Centre, having a café space here felt like a natural progression for UKHarvest.
“So far, the best aspect of opening the café has been meeting so many incredible people from the community. From staff at The Regis School, Southway Primary School, The Arena and Stepping Stones to residents and local community groups.
“Our café really is your café and we hope to see many more members of the Bognor community as the café continues to strive and thrive. We hope to see you soon.”
Community Hub Coordinator at The Phoenix Centre, Emma Babanou, has been instrumental in engaging UKHarvest with the community space. She said:
“I am so thrilled that we have been able to partner with UKHarvest to bring a safe, warm welcoming space back to the local community. We have lots of exciting plans for the future and I look forward to working with Simon and his team closely. It is nice to see The Phoenix Centre thriving and bustling every day.”
A local resident and café customer, Wendy, was kind enough to say:
“The Café is a happy welcoming friendly environment. You feel welcomed even on your own. It’s a great place to form new friendships.”
The Phoenix Centre, which is part of United Communities, is based on the same campus as United Learning’s Southway Primary School and The Regis School. Both schools are long-term supporters of UK Harvest organising various food drives and donating thousands of tonnes of food.
Sean O’Connor, Manager of the Phoenix Centre, said:
“This is more than just a café; it is a place for all members of the local community to come to enjoy good-quality food at very affordable prices. In the few weeks that we have been open, we have been pleased to welcome many people from the local area and we’re now seeing lots of regular customers.
“UK Harvest has developed an excellent offering and have thought really carefully about the sort of food visitors to the Phoenix Centre might enjoy.
“As a community hub, it wasn’t just important for the food to be affordable, but it needed to be from sustainable sources and through UK Harvest’s network of food distributors, we can play our part in reducing food wastage.”
Open Monday to Thursday between 9.30am and 4pm and Fridays 9.30am – 3.30pm, Nourish Hub Café is ready to welcome all members of the local community.