We thought it would be great to introduce you to some members of our team so you can see what goes on behind the scenes at Bags of Taste, first up is our Area Co-ordinator in Tower Hamlets, Ruth…

 

1. Can you share a bit about your background and how it led to your work with Bags of Taste?

I started at Bags of Taste as a volunteer mentor for Hackney. I live in the area and wanted to do some volunteer work but I also had a full- time job at the time and so I didn’t have a lot of time to spare. Being a volunteer mentor is a brilliant role for anyone looking to volunteer but who might not have full days or availability or who lives far away from physical volunteering opportunities – you can do it from anywhere and it only takes a couple of hours a week. After volunteering for about a year, I applied to work with Bags of Taste as the Area Coordinator for the programme in Tower Hamlets.

2. What inspired you to get involved with Bags of Taste?

I have always loved food and cooking so when I was initially looking for volunteer opportunities I looked for something related to that. I did a google search for something like “cooking volunteer work Hackney” and that led me to Bags of Taste via the Hackney Volunteer Centre. I liked how Bag of Taste takes a very practical, supportive approach to helping people from all backgrounds – from people who are absolute beginners at cooking, to busy mums, to pensioners.

3. What makes Bags of Taste so impactful for communities in Tower Hamlets? 

In Tower Hamlets, where levels of poverty, food insecurity, and health inequalities are among the highest in London, Bags of Taste can really help. Many local residents rely on takeaways or processed food because of low incomes and so helping them to save money, even just £10 per week, can have a big impact.

 

4. Can you share a memorable moment when you saw someone benefit from Bags of Taste programme?

A couple of years ago we had around a dozen gentlemen from a men’s support group in Tower Hamlets all sign up to do the course together. They had a variety of challenges; a few were widowers whose wives had typically done all the cooking and so were complete beginner, some had health issues and wanted to cut down on the takeaways and ready meals; some lived alone and really enjoyed and benefited from the camaraderie of a group activity.

It’s mostly women who participate in the Bags of Taste programme (around 80%) so getting a group of men all doing the programme together was brilliant.  All of them completed the programme and they all got together afterwards and took a group photo of themselves proudly holding their certificate which was fantastic!

5. How has your background in nutrition helped you with your role?

I have just finished a MSc in Public Health Nutrition, which was partially inspired by my role at Bags of Taste! One of the very first things I learned both at Bags of Taste and through the programme is that poor diet, diet-related health issues and food insecurity are not caused by lack of knowledge in individuals, but by wider social and economic factors that shape the choices people are able to make.

Participants tell me all the time that they know they “should” cook from scratch and eat more fruit and veg, but lack of time, the challenge of feeding fussy children, and above all the cost of healthier foods make this extremely difficult.

The ongoing cost of living crisis and rapidly rising food prices only compound the problem. Food costs are now more than 19% higher than in 2021, which forces many families to turn to cheaper, ultra-processed foods, which in turn has major consequences for public health.

In a nut-shell, food and cooking really matters! Making healthy and low-cost cooking accessible to everyone, which is what Bags of Taste does, has never been more important.

6. Lastly, what do you like doing when you are not working at Bags of Taste and in your spare time?

I love to do pottery and I take classes at a pottery studio on my street. I also love to cook (of course) and I absolutely love a food market. I just recently went to Billingsgate Fish Market (in Tower Hamlets!) for the first time this week and am kicking myself for taking so long to go. Save Billingsgate!

I’m a big fan of yoga too and I actually clean my local studio in exchange for unlimited free classes – a hot tip for any broke students who love going to yoga classes but can’t afford the membership fee.