Celebrating Community Through Food

Radius Housing have supported the Market Development Association to run out a series of community cooking lessons with the tenants of Hong Ling Gardens.

The Community Wellbeing Kitchen runs in four-week blocks throughout the year, each focusing on a specific theme.  Every month, twelve participants receive equipment, ingredients, and expert guidance to prepare selected meals.

Tenants from Radius Housing’s Hong Ling Gardens, an independent housing scheme for Chinese people aged 55 and over, have supported the project by delivering sessions on traditional Chinese cooking. The Tenants enjoyed participating with this project and experiencing the cooking methods of different cultures.

The project also served as an opportunity to highlight Radius Housing’s new Gasworks shared housing development and its ongoing partnership work with the local Advisory Group stakeholders.

The Market Community Wellbeing Kitchen offers residents the opportunity to connect, learn about nutrition, build confidence in grocery shopping and meal preparation, and strengthen community relationships.

Patrick McNally, Health Coordinator, Market Development Association:

“The Community Wellbeing Kitchen block with our neighbours in Hong Ling Gardens has been an amazing experience. Residents from diverse backgrounds came together to share how their cultures prepare and enjoy food, creating connection, learning, and lasting friendships. This is what this special initiative is all about, highlighting the power of food in building stronger, healthier communities.”

The Market Community Wellbeing Kitchen is run out by the Markets Development Association in collaboration with Queen’s University, the Public Health Agency and Belfast City Council.

It is also supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme.  The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society. A potential £14.4m will be invested in the Gasworks shared housing development and associated five-year Good Relations Plan’

Radius Housing have15 Shared Housing developments in total, 11 of which are currently in the development or delivery of 5 Year Good Relations Plans and the remaining 4, although they have come to the end of their plan period, continue to champion good relations in their on-going community engagement

The Gasworks Good Relations Plan includes ‘Bridging’ events which are delivered to the wider community to encourage a range of good relations outcomes which include Health and Wellbeing, Education and Training.

Further information:

The Executive Office - Together: Building a United Community

Shared Housing Programme | Department for Communities