OW BIST COMMUNITY KITCHEN
A community kitchen at the heart of Cinderford
We're on a journey to create the Ow Bist Community Kitchen — a warm, welcoming space at the heart of Ow Bist, bringing people together over good food.
Food has a unique power to connect us. We want the kitchen to serve simple, healthy, affordable meals — made with local ingredients where possible — and to become a friendly hub where people can meet, work, learn, connect with peers, and access support.
Some of the ideas we're keen to explore:
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Hearty, affordable lunches — curries, stews and simple home-cooked dishes
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Ethical soft drinks, teas, quality coffee and cakes throughout the day
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A "Butty Kitchen" of quality, locally sourced sandwiches
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Dietary, cultural and allergen needs catered for as standard, not an afterthought
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Plant-based food as a staple, alongside some meat and dairy
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Partnerships with local producers, suppliers and community growing groups
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Pay-as-you-can and pay-it-forward models, to keep food accessible to all
We're inspired by community-food initiatives like The Long Table in Stroud and The Sharing Kitchen in Newent — places where food is used as a vehicle for connection and community participation.
More than a café
FLEXIBLE SPACE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
Alongside everyday use, we want the kitchen to be a flexible space for the wider community — hosting cooking classes, pop-ups, volunteering and training opportunities, and community lunch takeovers. We're already planning sessions with Wyldwood Arts and local Sri Lankan residents, and we're building a team of volunteer community greeters to help welcome everyone through the door.
It all comes together around People, Place, Planet and Prosperity — a vibrant, community-driven space that strengthens Cinderford's sense of community through good food and shared purpose.
HOW WE COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN
We're open to exploring different ways of running the kitchen, including:
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An external operator — a community-focused business or social enterprise runs the kitchen day-to-day, with FVAF retaining strategic input
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A community CIC — a new CIC, set up with FVAF's support, becomes the food business and runs the kitchen independently but in line with FVAF's values
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A hybrid model — a mix of the above, with room for pop-ups, community takeovers and evening/weekend use alongside day-to-day running
WHAT WE CAN OFFER
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A brand new, fully fitted, high-spec commercial kitchen
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A newly fitted front-of-house space — tables, chairs and an outdoor seating area, designed to be fully accessible
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A busy Cinderford location, with regular visitors and around 80 staff working from the building
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Marketing support through FVAF's channels
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Connections to local community groups, volunteers and voluntary sector organisations
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Potential for in-house catering of events and meetings in the building
WHO WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM
We're looking for people who are:
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Passionate about sustainable, healthy, affordable food and cooking
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Community-focused, balancing social impact with commercial sustainability
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Open to working with volunteers and trainees
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Keen to reflect the diverse food cultures of our community
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Interested in innovative, barrier-removing models like pay-it-forward
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Flexible, and excited to help grow a community kitchen for Cinderford and the wider Forest of Dean
Whether you're an established food business, a passionate cook, a caterer looking to try pop-ups, a food educator, or simply someone who cares about food and community — we'd love to talk to you.
COME & FIND OUT MORE!
Anyone with an interest is invited to come along, see the space, eat and drink together, and help shape what the Ow Bist Kitchen could become.
MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
2PM-4PM
OW BIST - FOREST COMMUNITY SPACE, DOCKHAM ROAD, CINDERFORD GL14 2AQ
Enjoy locally sourced tea, coffee & cake!
If you can join us, please let us know so that we make sure we bake enough cakes!
