Worcester Community Trust

🥘 Snack and Chat – A Warm Meal, A Friendly Chat, A Stronger Community

Worcester Community Trust’s Snack and Chat project is a shining example of how a simple idea, sharing a hot meal and good conversation that can transform lives. Funded by the Citizen Local Fund, this initiative supports older adults in deprived areas by offering nutritious meals, social activities, and access to vital services.

The Citizen Engagement Team were honoured to attend this event, meet the wonderful participants, and enjoy the amazing food. After speaking with everyone, it was clear this project is all about community bringing people together, making friends, and sharing delicious meals.

💡 About the Project

Main issue addressed:
The project was created to give older people a regular place to go, enjoy a hot meal, socialise, and be signposted to other services they may need.

Goals:
To promote mental wellbeing, reduce isolation, and help older people feel a renewed sense of belonging in their neighbourhood.

“We wanted older people to take part in activities that promote mental wellbeing and help them feel connected again.”

Unexpected outcomes:

“We didn’t realise how much older people would share their concerns and problems with staff. Building this trust has been an unexpected but overwhelmingly positive part of the project.”

👥 Community Involvement

Local involvement:
Participants — affectionately called Snack and Chatters — help shape the project by sharing what meals, music, and activities they enjoy. Feedback is used to continuously improve the experience.

“Our Snack and Chatters do just that — chat! Their feedback helps us tailor everything to their tastes.”

Who benefits most:
Older residents are the primary beneficiaries, but the project also strengthens service connections across Worcester, benefiting families, friends, staff, and volunteers.

Changes in connection:

“Spending lightly structured leisure time together regularly has built genuine trust and open communication.”

🌱 Impact & Future Plans

Difference made so far:
Snack and Chat has become a reliable fixture in the community, giving clients something to look forward to each week.

Client stories:

“I’m so glad we have this group — it gives me something to look forward to and gets me out of the house.”
“I really enjoyed my lunch, and it made me feel better being around people.”

Future hopes:
To maintain consistency and build sustainable growth, ensuring clients are never let down.

“We want to keep a level of funding that allows us to make commitments to people and communities — and grow from there.”

💷 Funding & Support

How Citizen Local Fund helped:
The fund strengthened a well-loved service and created valuable connections with housing associations like Citizen.

Managing the funding:

“It was promptly paid, which helped us immediately tackle rising food costs.”

Tips for future applicants:

“Have community at the heart of what you’re doing. Focus on the names and faces of the people you serve — their stories matter.”
“Citizen Housing’s nature is in their name — they’re about the citizens. If your application reflects that, you’re on the right track.”