Our Story

The Benita Community Project CIC
Company number: 15592575

We are a small non-profit organisation who provide free hot meals and desserts in a pop-up cafe style setting across many locations in North Devon. We began the project in December 2022, based on a food poverty need, but very quickly realised that we are able to combat social isolation and loneliness, which is such a prevalent issue. Throughout 2023, we did a total of 12 meals, 1 per month and served a little over 1000 meals. This year to date, we have served 2644 meals (please note: most up to date number is on our Welcome page) and gone on to branch out and support snack boxes for GCSE students in school, and emergency food parcels for families through schools and local health centres.
We are entirely run on our own donations, raised by kind donations at our meals or bingos and raffles which we tirelessly organise, and a small team of around 7 volunteers. What began as one location has now grown to five, with 6 meals per month and we are still expanding our map! We truly love spreading joy, filling tummies and a little bit of happiness to every one of our guests. We serve everyone. Regardless of financial restraints, or otherwise.

Everyone who comes to dine with us is treated equally and others are expected to do so also. It provides a luxury that some may not be able to afford and company for those poor in that area too. What has truly been incredible is the response to that, we’ve seen a 90-year-old cut up the dinner of a 2-year-old she doesn’t know, and people pulling crackers at our Christmas meals as though they’ve sat at a Christmas table together for many years. Our demographic is literally everyone. What’s unique also is our ability to bridge church, charity, and class. We have our feet, essentially in both camps and are able to bridge gaps and watch new friendships form and new human connections made. Words cannot express how much we love our work!