Our projects
…got some really lovely fruit today, the winter breakfast is really starting to kick off. Without a doubt, we could not have been able to feed these numbers on our limited budget without the assistance of the SecondBite project…
Kate Nunan – Winter Breakfast Program, City of Port Phillip
SecondBite is always on the lookout for innovative ways to ensure that people have access to fresh nutritious food.
Food Angels
In 2008, SecondBite began research into some of the more complex issues surrounding food security. The outcome was Food Angels, a program that seeks to provide access to fresh food, information on low cost seasonal recipes and support to families in crisis before they need to access emergency food relief. Working in conjunction with the City of Port Phillip, 2 six-week pilot programs are now complete, and we expect it to roll out across other municipalities throughout 2010.
Help yourself program
The Port Phillip ‘Help yourself’ free food co-op was established to support the agencies and services available to ‘at risk’ groups living in the City of Port Phillip. After our Sunday afternoon market collections, we deliver food to a central location (council cold storage) where local agencies can help themselves to food on a need basis.
The Big Picture
The Big Picture is a new and innovative program initiated, designed and delivered by SecondBite, and funded by City of Melbourne and Scanlon Foundation. The program targets participants from local community organisations, living in disadvantaged circumstances with diverse backgrounds including the homeless, long term unemployed, indigenous, newly arrived migrants, refugees and people with disabilities, to develop confidence, skills and open pathways to employment.
The program combines training in soft skills in a classroom setting together with practical skills such as manual handling, OH&S and food handling training. The program is offered in collaboration with St Mary's House of Welcome who are providing the program with the classroom and access to their kitchen. The program works with 4 participants at a time for a duration of 2 days per week for 12 weeks.
The goal is to take participants outside their comfort zones, delivering a flexible program that meets the needs of each individual by supporting inclusion and enhancing self esteem. Use of positive learning environments and encouraging engagement amongst participants and stakeholders strengthens relationships and develops interpersonal skills. The aim of the program is to create fundamental building blocks that spark personal growth.
On completion of the program participants receive a certificate of attendance. Guidance and encouragement towards appropriate future pathways will be provided at the conclusion of the program. This will include introduction to a diverse range of opportunities offering volunteer placement, work placement, further study for accredited qualifications, or employment.
Feedback from participants supports the value of the program and the difference it can make.
"Your encouragement in assisting me throughout the three-month period during which you were my teacher is something I will never forget. Your style of delivering explanations created self confidence in me. Your understanding that I come from a different culture gave me encouragement in wanting to study and enhance my knowledge in the art of cookery."
"Thank you for allowing me to attend this fantastic opportunity for the Big Picture Program. It has grown me into directions I had not otherwise thought possible. I would like to extend my thanks to Shane and the volunteers in the kitchen as well as Patrick in showing me the operations of both sites. It has been an invaluable experience".