23 June 2025. This month in our Food with Friends event we highlighted the importance of building healthy connections in the community. The event was supported by City of Portsmouth College, Portsmouth City Council’s Independence and Well-being Team (see activities) and Southsea Beachwatch. We also presented research findings on engaging migrants in local climate action.
Dr. Bonny Ling, Executive Director, presented the research findings from WBI’s Seed Corn Project. Motivated by a commitment to fostering a sustainable economy at the grassroots level, WBI launched this initiative in February 2024 to explore how community gardening influences health, wellbeing, and climate agency among minority groups. The project was carried out in collaboration with Portsmouth’s Ethnic Grow Project.
This climate empowerment project was made possible thanks to the support from Natural England. We were delighted to have Mandy Preece, a senior manager from Natural England attend the event and contribute to the feedback. It was inspiring to hear how these community connections can create a positive impact!
It was a pleasure to welcome the passionate Gulsah Robertson, Lecturer of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), from the City of Portsmouth College, who led an interactive discussion about ESOL, English and Maths qualifications, as well as various skill-based courses. The session sparked a keen interest in adult learning courses, with many taking the opportunity to explore their questions further in one-on-one chats.
We were delighted to warmly welcome our collaborator and Ethnic Grow project officer, Runi Ahmed. Participants showed great interest in exploring the diverse range of social groups and activities provided by the Independence and Wellbeing team at Portsmouth City Council. Runi shared meaningful insights into the positive impact that social inclusion can have on health and wellbeing.
Jenni Jones from Southsea Beach Clean gave an engaging talk about local volunteering opportunities focused on preserving the beauty of Southsea Beach. She highlighted the importance of community involvement in tackling litter and protecting the coastal environment.
Jenni warmly invited our participants to take part in their weekly beach clean-up sessions, which take place every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM near the Coffee Cup.
