Unity in Vision, a charitable voluntary organisation, currentlyworking to provide food for those in need during the pandemic, started in a Bournemouth car park with just three women of ethnic backgrounds discussing the idea of a multi-cultural centre.
That was in the winter of 2007 and they soon expanded into other projects. In October 2008 they held their first international ethnic fashion show. It was held at the Wessex hotel in Bournemouth in partnership with the ‘Arts Institute’celebrating Black History Month’.
Unity in Vision was recognised for its trail blazing approachin responding to local issues. Since its establishment it has won an award along with other nominations.
Its success lies in its partnership approach with National,regional and local community faith organisations.
It has also held educational and social events. It was one of the first groups to support the ‘One World Festival’ which, celebrated black and Asian history month. Also, there are other much needed courses like self-reliance which greatly benefitted some resettled Syrian families in the area.
Rita, chair of Unity in Vision, said that partnership was essential in getting this unique project going. They work with:The Westbourne Rotary Club; ‘Poole Stake Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Church’ and together they are called the Unity International Catering Project.
The project truly blossomed and by the 10th of February this year 10,000 plates of food were served at their kitchen inBoscombe. That was over a 332-day period.
The kitchen/café serves up to 60 people a day and meals are also delivered by volunteers to those struggling to make ends meet.
Recipients include people on low incomes or those who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic as well as people with mental health issues. There are also victims of domestic abuse and asylum seekers.
Pam, a long-term volunteer, and former child protection social worker said: “It started off (for me) by being approached to provide meals for 20 odd single people that had been placed in B&Bs and were street homeless.”
She stressed the rewarding nature of the work and reminisced about one particular family: “This particular family, we only provided for for a week and the gentleman said, ‘It’s been absolutely fabulous, it’s just what I needed.”
Rita, said: “We realised we’ve got our skills as assets within the one big team. She added “We work with many migrant families.”
The project started as a female migrant group but has now expanded to include anyone interested.
Significantly, making meals together are Israeli and Muslimwomen as well as other races and religions.
Pam said: “It’s just fabulous. I mean we can have four or five different countries of origin cooking in the kitchen at the same time.”
As said the people involved in the project come from remarkably diverse backgrounds.
Rita said: “There are refugees and asylum seekers, they establish themselves and find ways to build up a new life.
She added “Unity in Vision is trying to help them develop skills. They are very hard-working people; they are not here to live on benefits.”
Other Volunteers for the project have expressed their gratitude for what it has done for them and told of great rewards to themselves.
Beatrice from Chile said: “I think the diversity in the group is incredible. She added: “I feel that there is so much conflict in the world. In our case we are all working for the same aim, to provide support to the community.”
Maiada, from Syria, said she found great joy in helping peopleand Sahar, from Sudan, said that they helped her a lot. She emphasised the great support and said it was nicely organised with different cultural backgrounds.
GERALD GILBERT
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About me
I reside in Bournemouth and I am a qualified published journalist specialising in environmental and social issues although I am adaptable and can write general articles. I have a distinction to my name and I have appeared numerous times in my local paper and the national press. I am community minded and believe in the power of journalism to bring communities together. I therefore write regularly for a community media.
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