“It starts here – in a small kitchen in Eastbourne…”
Build on Belief (BoB) is one of FareShare Sussex & Surrey’s community food partners in Eastbourne, providing a safe and welcoming space for people in recovery. Open at weekends, when other services often shut their doors, BoB sees up to 60 people a day come to ‘The Recovery Cafe’, many of whom are rebuilding their lives after addiction, homelessness, or mental health challenges. This space is part of a wider initiative called Change Grow Live.
Addiction can isolate people from family, friends, and community. Reconnection is a key part of recovery, and at BoB, that reconnection often begins with a hot meal.
“Coming here gives me a sense of belonging. It’s a safe space where I’m understood and accepted,” said one volunteer-turned-staff member. “We want people to look at us and believe that if we can do it, they can do it.”
From Toasties to Proper Meals
Before receiving surplus food from FareShare Sussex & Surrey, BoB’s offering was limited. “We were literally just doing toasties and hot dogs,” recalled Dale, Service Manager. “It wasn’t substantial, and we were spending about £200 a week just on bread, milk, sugar and cheese.”
Now, thanks to regular FareShare Sussex & Surrey deliveries, they can serve nutritious, home-cooked meals every day they open, and sometimes even offer breakfast using porridge oats and eggs.
“Your food deliveries have been a godsend,” said Mia, a staff member. “It’s really prompted a few of our volunteers who have been organising the recipes… One of them comes in on delivery day, puts it away, labels it, and makes a little meal plan. It’s given people more of a purpose.”
“Before, people were constantly hungry,” Dale added. “Now we cook proper meals—and the moment the food goes out, the room just goes quiet. People know they’re getting something good.”
From creamy chicken and rice to venison cottage pie, the creativity in the kitchen has grown alongside the café’s sense of pride and community. Volunteers have developed their culinary skills, figuring out what to cook based on the main ingredients they receive from their FareShare Sussex & Surrey weekly deliveries, and buying any additional ingredients to add to it.
Octavius, a volunteer chef and team leader, commented:
“I must say I’m really impressed every week with the quality. It’s been very high quality food. “
Beyond the Plate: Building Purpose and Possibility
Receiving food from FareShare Sussex & Surrey doesn’t just fill plates, it frees up budget for activities that support wellbeing and personal growth.
“Because we’re not using our budget on food, we can give our clients more of these nice activities,” one team member explained. “We’ve got a candlemaking workshop, a beautician who comes in to cut hair and trim beards… It’s lovely to see people engage.”
The impact of these services runs deep. At more than nine months in recovery, Octavius described:
“The nourishment that I get has allowed me to become better looking, to feel beautiful in myself, to put weight on… At that time of desperation, it’s important to feel better. FareShare Sussex & Surrey is part of that help so thank you very much.”
Another volunteer, Kirsty, shared her journey:
“I was in domestic abuse, had my children taken away from me, and got arrested. I’ve had a bad few years but now I’m turning it around. Being surrounded by lovely people here has helped me—I’m now nine months sober. I’ve just started volunteering and training with CGL.”
A Place to Be
Many of the volunteers at BoB began as service users. Some hadn’t worked in years, others were coping with disability, housing challenges, or mental health. The café provides a supportive, structured environment where people can rebuild confidence and skills. Conversations amongst other service users and volunteers who’ve been through similar experiences has helped people to see a path forward.
“This provides us with a really safe structure where you can progress,” said one former volunteer, now in a leadership role. “As each volunteer progresses, they take on a little more—maybe a training opportunity, or paperwork, or running a group. We’re just trying to support our volunteers.”
BoB’s role goes beyond food. They help people navigate housing applications, provide emergency supplies like sleeping bags and clothing, and offer essential human kindness in difficult moments.
“Especially when it was wet,” one volunteer shared, “we had people come in shaking. Just being able to sit down with a hot drink and a blanket, you could watch that shaking subside. They felt safe.”
The Power of Food, the Strength of Community
The relationship between BoB and FareShare Sussex & Surrey is more than practical, it’s symbolic:
“There’s symbolism in this,” a staff member said. “What would otherwise be rejected as worthless or ugly is being welcomed, embraced and transformed into something beautiful. FareShare and BoB, working together to transform lives.”
And for one volunteer, the vision stretches beyond Eastbourne:
“What starts here—in a small kitchen—could spread around the world. Everybody deserves to be fed, to be cared for. That’s what FareShare Sussex & Surrey helps us do.”
To find out more about the work they are doing at Build on Belief in Eastbourne, visit their Facebook page. Our overheads mean it costs us just £0.25 to provide enough food for one meal. Your donation of £15 can help us to provide 60 meals, which is enough for one day of visitors to The Recovery Cafe. Help today and donate here.