Poetry and homemade banana bread brought residents together to celebrate Black History Month at the Nourish Hub.
Mayor Cllr Sharon Holder joined the group to explore the work of celebrated Black British author Lemn Sissay on Friday 17 October.
Led by trained reader Sharon Spencer, the 14-strong group read Sissay's poems Childhood Home and Going Places – and discussed the works over breakfast.
In typical Nourish Hub fashion, the group later enjoyed a delicious three-course lunch featuring lentil soup, stuffed peppers with quinoa salad, and homemade banana bread at communal tables.
The event formed part of the community food hub's new weekly shared reading sessions for women. Mayor Cllr Sharon Holder said:
The Nourish Hub brings our community together as we tackle food poverty and social isolation.
I want to thank the incredible volunteers – without their dedication and hard work, this vital service simply couldn't exist. Together, we're building a stronger, safer and kinder H&F."
Food for thought
The free sessions take place on Fridays from 11am to noon at the 1 St Ann's Road location – just around the corner from Westfield shopping centre in Shepherds Bush.
Residents can experience shared reading under the guidance of Sharon Spencer and Bud Murryweather and without any pressure to talk or read aloud.
The sessions are free to attend, no booking needed. Just drop by.
The hub is already a popular destination for its £3 weekday meals.
Their ever-changing menu boasts creative vegetarian meals, prepared by volunteers using top quality food which would otherwise go to waste.
Umbrella charity, UKHarvest, works with farms, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to collect donations, prevent food waste and ensure residents have access to nutritious, affordable meals.
It is financially supported by H&F Council as part of its fight to end food poverty and ensure no one in the borough goes hungry.
Read the new H&F Food Plan to learn how we work to keep food in use too while supporting families with rising living costs.
Try the banana bread at home
Visit the hub Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm, for a community lunch.
Or try their egg-and-butter-free banana bread at home:
Banana Bread recipe
Top tip: The riper the bananas, the sweeter the cake!
Ingredients:
- 3 ripe bananas
- 125g softened butter
- 125g caster sugar
- 175g plain flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 100g chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 180 fan/200 conventional/gas mark 6. Lightly grease a 2lb loaf tin.
- Put the sugar, butter, eggs, flour and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Beat with a wooden spoon until you have a smooth batter.
- Push the mixture to one side, add the bananas and lightly crush with a fork. Sprinkle over the bicarbonate of soda and leave for a couple of minutes.
- Combine the bananas and batter taking care not to let the bananas go mushy.
- Spoon into prepared tin and level with a knife.
- Bake for about 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. You can start testing after 40 minutes – it sometimes needs few minutes more, but be careful not to let it over cook.
