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.
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.
This community meal we will be thinking about health for the winter. After the Community Meal, the Community Fridge will also be open for anyone who wishes to pick up fresh vegetables and fruit.
Book here
Email hello@roots4life or text/ message 07470 802379
Orchard volunteering day Sat 29 Oct 10 am - 1pm
Join Cat for our second orchard volunteering day and learn the basics about how to care for fruit trees. We will be running through the basics of orchard care including pruning, tree supports, identify diseases, weeding, watering, mulching and feeding. We will provide tools. Please bring gloves, hat and suncream. Tea and coffee provided. Send an email to cat@roots4life.org
'Green Hearts Club'. 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!
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
Pumpkin rescue and smash - Sat 5 Nov 11-1 pm
Finally it is the season of orange and spookiness. One of our most fun events last year was the Pumpkin Rescue and Smash. Did you know that in the UK we throw away £32.6 million woth of uneaten pumpkins each Halloween? So this year we will be rescuing your unused pumpkins to either store or make compost. Pumpkin rescue days will be on Tues 1 Nov, Weds 2 Nov and Thurs 3 Nov ONLY between 3-5 pm. In order to sort the pumpkins and squash, we request drop off at these times only.
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 13 September 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. Send an email to hello@roots4life.org or book here
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
New Eltham Litter Pick - Sunday 20 November from 10.30 - 12pm
Meet at Roots4Life at 10.30 to pick up a litter picker, gloves and hoops and rubbish bags. Come back with rubbish bags for a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate or chat with your local ward councillors. Car parking will be free for this event and we request that attendees use the Roots4Life car park and not park on the local streets. No registration required. Family accompanied event only and children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Volunteers for tea making and stewarding please email hello@roots4life.org
We will also be planting some native hedgerow so if you fancy helping out to help nature, then please wear wellies and outdoor clothing.
'Green Hearts Club'. 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!
PAST EVENTS
Roots4Summer camp - FULLY BOOKED. For wait list places or other local activity camps please email hello@roots4life.org
Roots4Summer will start on Monday 28th July until Thursday 18th August from 10 am until 2pm. Places are free to children on free school meals aged 7-13 years old.
We offer fun and outdoor activities that will help your child build their confidence, enjoying cooking and eating fresh produce and other activities including team sport, nature trails, gardening and arts and crafts. Suitable for children aged 8-13 years. There are some places for children with SEND and we will be in contact to discuss once you have registered.
Sessions include cooking lessons with a chef, learning about nutrition and healthy eating, boxing, football and team sport, nature trails, gardening as well as this year dance and drumming workshops with a grand performance at the end. We recommend a minimum of two weeks but we expect to be oversubscribe this year so please do book early.
Roots4Christmas - FULLY BOOKED
Roots4Life will be running its holiday programme again during the festive season break. Sessions will run from 10am - 2pm on from Monday 20th until Thursday 23 December. There will be free sessions for children on free school meals or sessions will cost £25 per day. Activities will include cooking lessons, physical activity from zumba to boxing exercise as well as a hot lunch and healthy snacks everyday. Suitable for children aged 8-14 years. Please register here
If you have any questions or want assistance with filling in the form please send an email to hello@roots4life.org or call 07470 802379.
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