Roots4Life is a community action project set up to tackle childhood obesity. To achieve this we intend to teach cooking skills, horticulture and the importance of nutrition. We also include exercise and mindfulness to support mental well being. It is hoped to include families, schools and community groups.
To find out more you can sign up to our mailing list and we will send out a monthly news, events, vegetable and wildlife updates here
The Baker Centre is a community hub that has been built for Roots4Life by Linden Homes. (See Key No.1 on the plan below)
It is within this building, and on the premises of the Bardhill site that our programmes and initiatives will take place.
The Baker Centre will offer activities and events that focus on health, wellbeing and excercise, and obviously growing vegetables and plants! We have already hosted two small picnics for local families. To date Roots4Life has run a summer camp, welcomed Levi Roots and help community drop-ins.
We hope to be offering very shortly education sessions, exercise classes, cooking sessions in our new teaching kitchen and a community cafe with healthy snacks and drinks.
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Roots4Life is looking for volunteers. We can offer a warm and welcoming working environment, all the right equipment and training if needed (for example food handling) and free vegetables and salad when in season. We welcome all volunteers from all backgrounds and experience - just fill in our volunteer form here
Join our Crowdfunder!
Times are increasingly tough for all at the moment and Roots4Life has launched a crowdfunder so we can continue with our essential services to families and individuals in need. From our weekly Community Fridge, green therapy sessions, Community Meals and cooking lessons for children and holiday activities, Roots4Life aims to be there for one and all. So help us raise more money to do more good in our local community.
Community Meal - Wednesday 22 March from 1-3pm
This community meal we are welcoming all to come and join us during half-term break. There will be fun outdoor activities for children with wellies available for those that do not have them. Our community fridge will also be open for anyone needing fresh fruit and vegetables or other household supplies.
There will also be support available with signposting to relevant support services from the Royal Borough of Greenwich if you are struggling this winter including with bills, food and heating with a LiveWell Greenwich Adviser on hand to support.
Book here
Family cooking class
Looking for dinner inspiration for you and your family? Roots4Life are running FREE cooking classes, teaching you how you can be creative in the kitchen whilst on a budget!
Each class has a maximum of eight people and are aimed for one parent and one child per station. Classes will run from 10am - 12noon on the following dates, with more to be released soon.
🍝 Saturday March 18th
🥮 Saturday April 1st
🍲 Saturday April 15th
Please contact izzy@roots4life.org to book or for further details.
In partnership with the Co-op and Hubhub our weekly community fridge is open for all with no need for registration or to be receiving universal credit. Just drop in and pick up what your want. Don't forget there is a Warm Hub from 2pm with healthy soup and bread and an opportunity to chat with the team and volunteers or speak to a LiveWell Greenwich adviser.
From January 19th we will be running a homework club, called HEAT. (Homework, Eating, Activities, Term Time). It will run from 3.30 - 5.30 pm each Thursday during term time and is aimed at 10 - 14 year olds. Priority is for children on free school meals.
The club will consist of:
We will be able to support children with reading, literacy and dyslexia. Unfortunately we will not be able to offer places to children with SEND at this time, however, we very much hope to do so in the future. If your child has SEND and you would be interested in a future scheme please send an email to admin@roots4life.org.
Please register here
Green Mondays - every Monday from 11- 12.30
On a cold dreary February Monday, local ward councillor Pat Greenwall came to visit Roots4Life. On discussing how hard Mondays felt in winter, the inspiration for Green Mondays was born. A drop-in session for adults who might be lonely, isolating due to ill-health or who might want to garden but struggle with back aches and pains. Funded by Greenwich Community Champions these weekly sessions will offer varied sessions on growing vegetables and flower in raised beds, healthy cooking and meals such as salads or carrot-top pesto pasta. With tea and coffee and gentle gardening or cooking, we will provide all the tools and equipment for a relaxing Monday morning.
Book here or send an email to hello@roots4life or text/ message 07470 802379
Wild Wednesday- every Wednesday from 1-2.30 pm
Join Cat to plant hedgerow, sow seeds and help manage our beautiful site. Gloves and tools provided.
Green Hearts Club
Did you get your Green Hearts loyalty card in 2022? The Green Hearts Club is about tackling climate change in your local community. Do a good climate deed in your community to help combat climate change and received Roots4Life 'Green Hearts' in return to be traded for fresh vegetables and other goodies in the future! Sign up to our newsletter to hear about upcoming events but you can top up your Green Hearts by doing a litter pick locally. Bring a rubbish bag and pick up a litter picker from Roots4Life on a Monday or Wedneday afternoon and any rubbish can be put in our commerical bins. We also have spare gloves. You can also top up Green Hearts by donating old wellies, mugs or seeds at Roots4Life.
Corporate Volunteering Days
The sun is shining and vegetables-are-a-growing! As many have returned to offices or different ways of working - be it remotely, hybrid or a mix - why not consider a corporate volunteering day at Roots4Life. We can offer seed sowing, conservation tasks, vegetable management, meeting room space as well as a health tasty lunch - all in an unqiue 8.5 acre site. To find out more send an email to hello@roots4life.org
Yoga with Jo - term time only
Our yoga sessions with Jo have been peaceful and popular. They will start again on Tuesday 17 January at 9.15 am for a hour. Jo will be leading us in an hour's Vinyasa Flow, which is suitable for all ages and abilities. If you a regular yogi, you will be familiar with the fluidity of a Vinyasa flow, but if you are new to yoga do not fear - Jo will give adaptions to the poses for your capability. There has been interest in evening yoga as well so please contact us to let us know if you are interested in an evening weekday session too. To book send an email to hello@roots4life.org
Pilate with Joanne - term time only
Our pilates sessions with Jo run every Thursday morning. To find out more send an email to hello@roots4life.org
Adult volunteer garden sessions
Cat will be leading adult volunteer gardening sessions for adults over 18 years old. For further details please email cat@roots4life.org
Roots4life are here to help YOU during the Covid -19 crisis. We are working in a professional kitchen, making and then delivering meals to the vulnerable in the areas of Greenwich, Lewisham and Bexley.
The Roots4Life charity was set up to prevent food poverty and the physical and mental health challenges that are faced from malnutrition, obesity and social isolation, but we have decided to shift our focus for the next few months.
The challenge is getting food and supplies to those that need it most. Not only does this apply to those already in need, but to the recently unemployed due to sudden redundancies!
Malnutrition and loneliness are likely to rise in the coming months, so despite our focus changing slightly, we are determined not to stop what we set out to do.
Registered charity No. 1165003
Registered Address: Roots4Life,
The Baker Centre, 245 Footscray Road
London SE9 2EL