How to build up your community over lunch
In the midst of our busy, bustling and stressful lives, it can be so easy to forget these three essential priorities:
to take time out, to eat well, and to connect with others.
That’s why, every Tuesday at 12.30 (appointments permitting), I make it a priority to head to St Chad’s Church Hall in Bensham, Gateshead, for the Samosa Sisters’ Community Pay As You Can Lunch.
Who Are the Samosa Sisters?
The Samosa Sisters are a grassroots not-for-profit organisation run by asylum-seeking women.
Their mission is to empower vulnerable women while using funds raised through catering to relieve poverty via a destitution fund.
These women are truly inspirational — having escaped horrific circumstances, they now dedicate their time, energy, and skills to serving and supporting others in our community.
A Feast for the Senses
The ladies are exceptional cooks, and the two-course meal they prepare each week is consistently delicious.
But beyond the food — which truly is a highlight of my week — what makes this lunch so special is the sense of connection.
Each Tuesday, you’ll find refugees, home-workers, jobseekers, clergy, stay-at-home parents, retired people, council workers, and more, all sitting down together to share food and stories.
It’s a chance to share, laugh, learn, and sometimes cry together — to break barriers and build bridges, to shatter stereotypes and forge relationships.
Why It Matters
In a time when there is so much despair, uncertainty, and mistrust, these weekly lunches offer something profoundly hopeful.
They give us a chance to:
Pause and take time out
Refuel our bodies with nourishing food
Replenish our souls through human connection
Together, we’re proactively building a community that is inclusive, united, and supportive.
Join Us
I’m starving! Who’s up for joining us for a community lunch?
Find out more about the Community Food Co-op that the Samosa Sisters are also involved in by clicking here.
About Talbot Jones Risk Solutions
Talbot Jones Risk Solutions
is an insurance brokerage specialising in Charity and SME insurance.
If you’d value a free insurance review, advice, or quotation, get in touch — we’ll be more than happy to help.
