A local charity has been showing its great work to one of its funders.

Social inclusion charity, Be Enriched, as well as partners Feeding Britain, were joined by members of the Greater London Authority (GLA) to see how funding for the Food Bus is helping to support the local community.

The London Food Bus - one of Be Enriched's projects - was a recipient of £120,000 of the Mayor of London's Good Growth Fund, a £70million regeneration programme aimed to support growth and community development.

Members from the GLA joined Be Enriched's CEO and founder, Kemi Akinola, along with members from Feeding Britain to see how the repurposed bus was bringing food to those who struggle to afford health items.

The Hadley Property Group were also in attendance after providing the bus with an overnight parking space after it was recently vandalised.

The property developers will be providing volunteers for the charity's canteen and are in discussions about other ways to potentially support Be Enriched.

The bus parked at Allen Edwards School in Stockwell while on its usual route which also passes through Kennington, Roehampton and Tooting. Here people who struggle to access and afford healthy food were given the opportunity to buy surplus produce donated by local suppliers.

The GLA heard about the bus's features, such as its onboard cafe and the fact it is power by solar panels.

Kemi said: "Our charity's focus is on enriching communities through food and we've already delivered a lot of benefit through our Community Canteens.

"The London Food Bus allows us to shift this to a whole new level, allowing us to take healthy food to people who may otherwise not have access to it.

"Getting to this point has not been without its challenges, especially after the bus was recently vandalised, but we are so thankful for the funding from the GLA,and everyone's support.

"It's such an exciting project for us and we hope that many people will stop by, use the cafe and pick up some good ingredients to cook with."

Feeding Britain added: "Feeding Britain works in partnership to tackle hunger across the UK. We support innovation, share great practice and push for systemic change.

"We are delighted to be working with Be Enriched on the Food Bus, bringing fresh, healthy food right into the heart of communities.

"The Food Bus is the first of its kind, and is now paving the way for other food busses across the Feeding Britain network."

Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills said: "The Food Bus is a brilliant new project enabling access to affordable healthy food across the borough, made possible through the Mayor's Good Growth Fund.

"With wrap-around support programmes, a café and on-board affordable supermarket, this is an example of successful partnership working across networks and communities."

The Food Bus is just one of a number of projects Be Enriched organises to help connect people through food. Its Castle and Graveney Community Canteens hosts volunteers, who come together to cook a three-course meal for locals, while its Healthy Holiday programme helps to ensure that youngsters have access to nutritional food, and development activities, when they aren't at school.

The London Food Bus is open to anyone who can make use of its services and it will soon operate as follows:

Tuesdays

Danebury Avenue Green, 2pm - 4pm

Wednesdays

Allen Edwards school, 2pm - 4pm

Thursdays

Rames Close, 2pm - 4pm

The Community Canteens are open on the following days:

Castle Canteen

Fridays, 1pm - 2:30pm

Volunteers are needed before, during and after each session and all are welcome.

For more information on how to get involved, including sponsor The London Food Bus or other Be Enriched projects go to its website.

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