Bwyd Da Bangor is an innovative initiative which combines a membership-based food share programme, re-distributing surplus supermarket stock, with a high-quality training café.
Bwyd Da Bangor offers a unique opportunity for food to be the enabler for a vast range of opportunities to support individuals and communities.
The food club provides access to affordable food produce to members, who pay a weekly subscription and receive food to many times the value of the subscription.
The wider impact of Bwyd Da Bangor is to support individuals back into employment. Food again is the enabler, supporting people with mental health problems, in recovery, or experiencing the effects of homelessness. Equally important is the quality of food offered and the friendly atmosphere.
Bwyd Da Bangor aims to be an exemplar programme. Embedded in Bangor, celebrating all that is good about Bangor, but opening horizons to the wider region, and will support others who wish to follow the same journey.
Bwyd Da Bangor addresses a number of priority areas, including:
- Supporting food production and reducing the carbon footprint.
- Alleviating food poverty.
- Helping to eradicate food waste.
- Contributing to the economic regeneration of Bangor city centre.
- Creating employment.
- Helping individuals move on from homelessness.
- Supporting individuals coming through drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
- Creating volunteering opportunities.
Bwyd Da Bangor has received financial support from Welsh Government, Gwynedd Council, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the Steve Morgan Foundation, as well as North Wales Housing and Adra (Tai) Cyfyngedig.
The site is home to food club, café, deli and bistro. It also provides space for local artists to showcase their work and for local talent to shine on open mic days. Bwyd Da Bangor is also open for bookings of special occasions and events, such as weddings and anniversaries.