Hounslow Council has hosted a holiday food event at the college-run Community Hub.
Published: Friday, 6th June 2025
Last week, Hounslow Council hosted a holiday food event at the college-run Community Hub, making sure food which might otherwise go to waste, was distributed to people who can use it.
These food surplus pop-ups are well received locally, with more than 70 residents and 18 children benefitting from the initiative during the May half term.
The Leader of Hounslow Council, Shantanu Rajawat, and Cabinet Member for Residents Support, Communities and Equalities, Councillor Ajmer Grewal, visited the half term food surplus event.
The school, which runs Al’s Diner, a free community dining event, on Sundays, promotes a welcoming, friendly and inclusive atmosphere at its Community Hub and food events.
Guests are met with ready smiles and shown to a considerable spread of varied food, including tinned goods – along with fresh fruit and vegetables.
When people have what they need, guests are invited to have a rest and a free tea or coffee, taking a moment to meet others, or catch up with friends.
Alan from Cranford College joins Cllrs Rajawat and Grewal.
Meanwhile, Hounslow Council’s Health Outreach Team invites people to stop by for a blood pressure check and a chat. Hounslow’s Citizens Advice (HCA) team was busier than ever, helping people to manage bills, and local women’s group, Shewise, supported families with employment, health and more.
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, said:
It was a pleasure to attend this event, and witness the wonderful, relaxed atmosphere and many smiling faces.
I’d like to thank Alan and everyone at the college for the amazing work that they do, as well as our excellent health outreach team, Shewise and Hounslow Citizen’s Advice. It's through events like this that we can build trust and best support local people, be that with health, bills, housing or getting into work.
This holiday food event at Cranford Community College’s Community hub, is part of our drive to bring council services and other support, closer to people’s homes.
Alan Fraser , Director of Community Partnerships and income Generation at Cranford College, said:
Cranford Community College has a history of supporting the community during challenging times be it the food delivery service run in the first lockdown, Al’s diner providing free Sunday lunch and now in conjunction with A2Dominion, the Felix Project and the council, the school holidays food and services hub.
Hounslow Council supports the Hounslow Food Network, which brings together organisations that have surplus food, and others who can distribute the food to those most in need. They meet quarterly to establish where demand is highest, encouraging better distribution of the food.
Cranford Community College is part of the Council’s Cranford Community Hub support for people in the area, along with the Beaver’s Library Community Hub. Work is currently underway to add a third Cranford Hub at the Meadowbank Centre in Cranford.
Find out more about Community hubs and food support projects in Hounslow.
