Since November 2022, The Community Shop at Victoria Park on Peel Street has been a vital extension of our work at The Hub on Havelock Street. Thanks to the generosity of Challenge Anneka and their TV production team, we were gifted a modular building that now serves as the welcoming home of our community food shop.

Open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the shop plays a crucial role in supporting local residents during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Every day, we collect surplus food from 4 to 5 local supermarkets, preventing good-quality food from going to landfill and redirecting it to people who need it most.

Our Monday volunteer day is when the magic begins! Local volunteers come together to sort donations and prepare the shop for the week ahead. It’s a brilliant opportunity to get involved, make friends, and be part of something meaningful.

The Community Shop is a non-referral space and is open to anyone who needs a bit of extra support. By providing perfectly edible surplus food, we help households stretch their budgets, freeing up money for other essentials like heating, rent, and transport.

We also stock store cupboard essentials, which we have either purchased through donations or via partnerships like FareShare, allowing us to sell them at low, accessible prices. Crucially, customers can choose what they need, rather than receiving pre-packed parcels. This empowers people, restores dignity, and helps reduce food waste by ensuring nothing is taken unnecessarily.

Beyond food, the shop has become a vibrant space for sharing recipes, cultures, and cooking tips. We regularly exchange ideas with our local BAME community, often introducing new and exciting dishes that many of us wouldn’t otherwise try. It’s about more than just meals, it’s about connection, creativity, and community.

At its heart, The Community Shop is about choice, dignity, and support because everyone deserves access to good food, regardless of their circumstances.

Our Community Café offers a warm, welcoming space where people can enjoy a warm cuppa and a slice of cake whilst connecting with others. It provides a much-needed social hub in an area that previously lacked accessible, inclusive spaces for the community to come together.

Beyond great sweet treats, the café also serves as a stepping stone into work and training, offering volunteering opportunities to individuals who are furthest from the job market, including those with learning disabilities or additional support needs. For many, it’s a chance to gain confidence, build valuable skills, and take the first steps toward future employment in a supportive, understanding environment.

The Community Café also serves as a vibrant hub for a variety of community outreach projects, including our popular Sewing Club. These activities bring people together in a relaxed and friendly setting, helping to reduce isolation, foster creativity, and build a stronger sense of community.

Our cooking workshops are all about bringing people together in a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environment. They offer a chance to learn new skills, meet new people, and prepare delicious, nutritious meals. All while having fun in the kitchen!

Every Tuesday, we run our popular “Take Home Tea” workshop at The Community Hub, 34 Havelock Street, Thornaby, TS17 6HN, from 12:30pm to 2:00pm (term time). Participants cook wholesome meals using fresh ingredients and take them home to enjoy with their families.

On Thursdays, we host a lively Community Day at Arlington Park, Adderley Street, Stockton, TS18 3GT, from 10:00am to 12:00pm. This session offers something for everyone. Growing, cooking, and shopping, in a relaxed, inclusive space where people of all ages and backgrounds can get involved.

Thanks to our range of mobile cooking equipment, we’re also able to take our workshops on the road! Whether it’s in a community centre, park, or school hall, we can deliver fully equipped sessions just about anywhere. Most recently, we’ve been proud to partner with The Big Local Roseworth, running Wednesday evening cooking sessions for local residents; Sharing skills, building confidence, and inspiring creativity in the kitchen.

Come and shop with us at the Community Shop, where you’ll find low-cost, good-quality food—and even some free items, just like our original shop in Thornaby. It’s open to everyone, with no referral needed.

While you’re here, why not join in with our community cooking sessions in the café? Learn new skills, share recipes, and enjoy preparing healthy meals in a friendly, supportive space.

You can also get your hands dirty in the community allotment, run in partnership with Cultivate Tees Valley. It’s a great chance to grow your own food, meet new people, and enjoy the outdoors.

Everyone is welcome. No need to book, just turn up and get involved!

With spring in full bloom, there’s no better time to get outdoors, get your hands in the soil, and grow something amazing. Join us every Monday from 1pm to 3pm (term time) at our Community Garden, located at the corner of Peel Street and Cromwell Terrace, Thornaby.

Since June 2021, we’ve been working alongside our friends at Cultivate Tees Valley to transform this once-unused space into an inclusive, welcoming, and thriving garden for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re an experienced grower or a complete beginner, there’s something here for you.

Our “Plot to Plate” sessions are about more than just gardening, they’re about learning where food comes from, building community, and discovering the joy of cooking with ingredients you’ve grown yourself. From sowing seeds to harvesting produce and sharing recipe ideas, every Monday is a chance to reconnect with nature, improve wellbeing, and make new friends.

No experience needed; Just curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to dig in!

Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned stitcher, our Sewing Club is the perfect place to get creative, learn new skills, and enjoy some great company.

We’re fully equipped with six brand-new sewing machines, a selection of fabrics, patterns, and project ideas, and best of all a group of friendly, experienced sewers who are always happy to offer guidance and support.

Come along and make your own tote bag, upcycle or alter clothes, or simply drop in for a cuppa and a chat. It’s a relaxed, welcoming space where everyone is encouraged to have a go, share ideas, and enjoy the simple pleasure of making something by hand.

Sprouts Community Food Charity delivers the accredited Level 2 Food Hygiene course for groups of 6 people upwards. We can run the course from The Community Hub, or deliver it at your site or at a location of your choice. Each course will allow participants to undertake the accredited Level 2 Food Safety in Catering course.

This accredited training is designed to give candidates an appreciation of the basic principles and practices associated with safe food handling and preparation through the prevention of contamination and poisoning. This course is suitable for all staff involved in substantial food preparation, handling, and storage.

• Understand the terminology of food safety.
• Understand the laws that apply to food safety and describe generally the requirements of regulations.
• Appreciate the concept of food hazards and how the risk of food contamination can be contained.
• Appreciate the role of refrigeration, safe food storage, cleaning and disinfection.
• Recognise the relationship between food hygiene and the structure and equipment of food premises.

Accredited Qualification: Level 2, Qualsafe

Every school holiday, Sprouts hosts “Pop-Up in the Park” events at Victoria Park in Thornaby, offering a fun, inclusive day out for local families and young people.

These free events feature a mix of sports, creative activities, and nutritious meals, ensuring that children from all backgrounds have access to healthy food, safe play, and meaningful social experiences during the school break.

Delivered in partnership with Corner House Youth Project and a range of local organisations, each event regularly attracts over 200 attendees, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the Mandale and Victoria ward.

More than just a fun day out, Pop-Up in the Park is helping to transform Victoria Park into a vibrant, welcoming community space. The project plays a vital role in promoting physical and mental wellbeing, reducing inequality, and building stronger community connections, creating lasting benefits for local residents and the wider area.