PROJECT UPDATE JANUARY 2012:
- Veg Bag scheme now has three collection points and 27 customers. There are 9 service users with severe and
enduring mental health needs assisting with the bagging each week. The scheme also provides opportunity for two volunteers to help with coordination.
- YASP has been implementing their new three year Big Lottery funding, including running initial cafe training sessions for services users and evaluating this training. Service users have been involved in the design of the training and evaluation.
- Manchester Mind Cafe has continued to use its kitchen buddy and mentors system which is helping cafe service users reach their goals through use of the recovery star. One volunteer from the cafe has started a health & social care course.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Bite is a partnership led by HARP, developing a Manchester wide social enterprise, engaging people over 15 with or at risk of developing poor mental health in healthy local food activities. Bite will increase food security, and improve skills, confidence and overall health in the community. This will be achieved through a variety of work opportunities for volunteers, based around growing, cooking, processing, and distributing food.

Project participants will be supported through education, training and ‘moving on’ services. Target: Wellbeing partly funds a Project Development Worker, for a period of four years. The job primarily involves supporting, co-ordinating and developing volunteer engagement, at existing kitchens, cafes, and food growing projects run by project partners.