It’s Black History Month, so we caught up with Nigeal Andall, Managing Director of the North London Community Consortium, who recently launched the Allotmentz Cafe in Friern Barnet.
Nigeal Andall, Managing Director of the North London Community Consortium, and the team at his new venture, Allotmentz community cafe
They aim to engage, enable, empower and equip people from marginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their intellectual, social, emotional and economic independence and wellbeing. They do this through their own CHOICES programme project, located now at Allotmentz Cafe. CHOICES is an acronym for Choose Health Opportunities, Independence, Character, Employment & Skills.
Allotmentz is a cafe and restaurant in one venue, divided by two kitchens (one for vegans, the other for meat-eaters), that supports the local community. Profits from food sold are reinvested to provide free meals to the vulnerable. Allotmentz also provides training for young people through jobs in which they can learn new skills in a working environment.
During the Lockdown earlier this year, Nigeal and his team provided more than 11,000 hot meals to the homes of vulnerable people. They provide great tasting food suitable for all including vegans and vegetarians.
Nigeal will be hosting events at his café during Black History Month to support creative people, as well as serving up many delicious Caribbean jerk chicken burgers.