A Year in Review - 2021
Well, well. What a year it has been. 2021 has presented the most challenging and exhausting of times, particularly for those in marginalised communities, like the ones we serve, and for food and hospitality businesses.
Even in this climate, Houria has not only survived, but we have thrived, thanks to the commitment of our staff and volunteers, the generosity of our clients, customers and funders, the clarity and strength of our vision, and, of course - let’s never forget - the DELICIOUSNESS of our Afro Vegan food offerings.
Here are a few highlights from our year:
We are proud to have provided safe, meaningful employment, training and Befriending opportunities to the women in our Sisterhood.
Our Sisterhood has grown from 4 women at the start of 2021 to 25 women at the end of the year.
We have hosted 4 Community Feasts for the wider public - Refugee Women, Elders and our Houria Sisterhood.
We have hosted 44 cooking days for our Friday Feast service at St Werburghs City Farm and Baraka Cafe.
We have fed approximately 1300 people via our catering service.
We have reached approximately 160 people via our anti-racism and modern slavery awareness-raising training and speaking engagements.
117 hours of volunteer time have been recorded since we started logging hours in October this year. Phenomenal volunteerism has been witnessed this year!!!
We have received some gorgeous feedback too…
"I enjoy working with Houria. There’s nothing I don’t like. Our cooking, our food, everything in Houria, I just love it." (Salha)
“I so enjoyed the Elders Feast. In fact, it's the first time I laughed in years. The company was wonderful. Thank you for allowing me to have the experience.” (Feaster, Elders Feast)
"I actually want your food everyday. It’s more than food, it’s soulful and delicious. Thank you. It was a delight." (Feaster, Migrants Bureau)
We absolutely loved our meal. All of it was fresh, delicious, and it came in ample portions. Everyone in our party was delighted and discussed how we will be ordering from you again. So much better than a regular takeaway. Thank you! (Friday Feast customer)
We have been delighted to welcome new Sisters into the fold. We have provided five women with employment and training opportunities, as well as setting three Sisters up with Befriending relationships. We have witnessed incredible development in the Sisters, particularly Salha, who was promoted to Team Leader this year and who hosted her absolutely stunning Sudanese Supper Club at Harvey Nichols in November.
“I’m so excited for being a team leader. I think that is a huge opportunity for me and working at the Supper Club, working with Kim and Houria. I have learnt a lot and I really appreciate that.” (Salha, Sister)
At the start of the year we also welcomed our first cohort of volunteers into the Houria fold, delivering our newly developed, five-point training programme to them over Zoom. The cold, lockdown nights were warmed and inspired by our connection with these kind, open-hearted women. This cohort of seven volunteers grew into a fifteen-strong crew by the end of the year, and we are incredibly grateful for the time and energy these amazing women have injected into Houria.
“I found the training really engaging and inspiring. Felt like a support system was being built and I feel really connected to the cause and ethos of Houria. I feel like it has given me a solid grounding to help me best approach working with the Sisters.” (Kathleen, Volunteer)
March 2021 saw the re-opening of hospitality services and events started being held once more. As our catering service started up again, we moved our Friday Feast operation into St Werburgh’s City Farm’s kitchen. Throughout the year we have developed a strong partnership with the Farm and we are proud to now be one of the resident organisations cooking in the space.
We have set up partnerships with other organisations such as Better Food, becoming the charity of the year at their Whiteladies Road store; Unseen, who will be supporting us to onboard Sisters for our new FoodWise training programme; Black South West Network, whose office space we have moved into; and Team Canteeninstagram.com/teamcanteenbristol/?hl=en-gb up at Breaking Bread, who we worked with consistently over the year, catering at events, speaking on panels and hosting our own Creole Supper Club.
“Delicious food…seamless and friendly kitchen service, lovely guests… Nourishing in every way.” (Shona, Team Canteen on our Creole Supper Club)
Our client portfolio has been building up beautifully this year and it has been especially refreshing to cater for fellow change-makers in the antislavery movement, such as Cleo Lake and Bristol Beacon.
We have catered for such a variety of events and occasions. From private birthday events in the Cotswolds, to canapes at the Royal TV Awards. From Channel 4 Feast delivery to the University of Bristol’s guided tour on slavery at Will’s Memorial Building. From the Global Development Goals event at the Bristol Beacon, to the Eastside Community Trust’s heartwarming Thank You Awards. The requests have been coming in thick and fast!
Additionally, Houria has joined the catering roster for Bristol Old Vic and we have been jetting food back and forth to the venue on the regs! We are delighted to be working with all these incredible individuals and organisations, and we look forward to much more in 2022.
“You and your team were just brilliant! I didn't have to worry about a thing you had it all under control! So thank you for that. It took a lot of pressure off me personally." (Becky, Eastside Community Trust)
Activism and social justice is woven into the fabric of our organisation, and we are passionate about getting our voice heard on the topics that matter most to us. This year our CEO, Kim Prado, has spoken on panels, podcasts, radio stations and in interviews on issues around modern slavery and anti-racism. Check some of these links out if you’d like to hear / read more:
“I had tears in my eyes. Beautiful. You always speak from the heart” (Audience member, Global Development Goals event at the Bristol Beacon)
To all of you who have played a part in Houria’s 2021 journey, we are grateful for you! To those of you we have not yet met or fed, we cannot wait to chow down with you in 2022. Here’s to a glorious New Year.