FEAST With Us (FEAST) was founded in 2015 by Hannah Style, an NHS dietician. Hannah was seeing firsthand how rising malnutrition and food insecurity were affecting vulnerable people around London and in her local area. She set off to do something about it.
Hannah picked up surplus food from local shops and supermarkets and approached Conway House – a local temporary homeless accommodation hostel for men – and suggested she, together with volunteers, cook a monthly meal with and for residents. Staff were really enthusiastic about the idea – in settings like this, where time and resources are often stretched, extra support and kindness like this are especially valuable. And so, Conway House provided the welcoming community space and spirit that enabled Hannah, together with her friends and family, to volunteer and bring an integral community feel that would soon make a huge shift for lasting social change.
Many residents, facing challenges around homelessness, isolation and food insecurity, were welcomed to gather around a table for a shared meal. The response and impact were immediate. As well as a nutritious meal, the meals brought comfort, routine and a sense of belonging and community that had been missing for so many.
As demand grew, monthly meals became weekly. Volunteers and residents began returning regularly, relationships formed and a sense of belonging blossomed. The model that Hannah created worked well. It soon became clear this model was tapping into a great need, a model that was valued by residents, staff, and volunteers alike.
Growing Together – Community & Connection
In 2023, we piloted our healthy eating on a budget programme at Conway. A series of hands-on workshops that empower participants to cook affordable, nutritious meals. The sessions are practical and fun – giving residents both skills and confidence. These qualities allow them to feel more equipped to make healthier choices and stretch their food budgets.
Linda, ETE Coordinator at Conway House, describes the sessions as life changing for residents and shares how the workshops opened conversations, broke down barriers and create a lasting impact that extend far beyond the kitchen.
“It is always a great pleasure to work in partnership with FEAST. The Healthy Eating Program continues to enable and encourage healthy eating among the residents.
Residents are able to make more informed decisions about the kind of foods they eat, where they buy food from and also how particular foods may impact on health conditions. Those who have successfully completed the course, now confidently prepare meals for other residents using food donations, whether that be sweet, savoury, fruit or veg nothing is spared.
Residents are also encouraging other residents to sign up for the upcoming courses, so they can benefit from taking part in communally cooking for Hostel events like Barbecues etc.
The programme has been so successful with residents that we are now running our eighth cohort of the programme at this hostel!”
Looking Ahead
At Conway House, a monthly shared meal brought residents together – not just to eat but to connect and be nourished in every sense of the word. That first meal a decade ago, with humble and heartfelt intentions, was the very beginning of FEAST.
To this day, Conway House remains at the heart of FEAST. We now run a weekly community dinner and regularly deliver our healthy eating on a budget programme. Conway House has never just been a venue. It’s been a learning space and a springboard for some of FEAST’s most impactful development.
As we celebrate our 10th year, Conway House reminds us of how far we’ve come – and why we do what we do. It’s a powerful symbol of the potential of community-driven action and the importance of sticking around for the long haul.
That commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed – at our recent Birthday Celebration held at Conway, the residents surprised us with flowers – a simple but deeply moving gesture that spoke volumes. It was a reminder that the impact of our work isn’t just measured in meals served or sessions delivered but in the connections we nurture with our community
From that very first meal to a decade of dinners and workshops, Conway has been a cornerstone of FEAST’s story. And as we look to the future, we carry with us the lessons, memories and gratitude of everyone who has been a part of that journey.
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Written by Rebecca Clarke