Communities Fund has provided £5,710 of match funding
Grow, Cook, Save – The Wellbeing Café & Garden
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
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Aim
We're raising £10,000 to help families save money, grow food, cook on a budget and build financial confidence together.
We're raising £10,000 to bring our vision for a Wellbeing Cafe & Garden to life – a community space where local people can come together to grow food, learn to cook affordable meals, enhance their wellbeing, reduce isolation, and build valuable skills and confidence.
The Wellbeing Café & Garden will help people become more financially resilient through practical learning and community support. Funding will provide affordable cooking, meal planning, budgeting and money management workshops, alongside gardening sessions where participants learn to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs to reduce household food costs. Produce grown in the garden will be used in community meals and slow cooker sessions, showing families how to prepare healthy, nutritious meals on a budget. The project also offers volunteering, peer support and access to advice, helping people build confidence, reduce isolation and become more financially secure.
By learning how to budget, reduce food waste, grow their own produce, prepare healthy low-cost meals and make informed financial decisions, participants will gain practical skills they can continue using long after the project ends. Rather than providing short-term support alone, we want to help people reduce everyday living costs, build confidence and feel more secure and in control of their financial future.
At MK Melting Pot, we believe in the power of community. This cafe & garden will be a welcoming hub for everyone, especially those experiencing loneliness, looking for volunteering opportunities, or wanting to share and improve their skills. We particularly want to support low-income households by providing access to money management tips, information, advice, and year-round activities, including community slow cooker sessions, craft and games. With the rising cost of living, many local families are finding it challenging to afford healthy food while also facing increased financial pressure and mental wellbeing concerns.
Alongside providing meals and food support, we help people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to reduce food costs, manage household budgets and become less reliant on crisis support over time. Now is the perfect time to develop a space that offers practical support and builds connection.
Your support will help us grow this vibrant space, allowing us to provide a place where fresh produce is taken from garden to plate, where affordable, healthy cooking and budgeting skills are taught, and where new friendships can blossom. Every contribution, big or small, will help us reach our goal and make a real difference in our community. If you're able to, please consider donating and sharing our project with your friends and family.
Where your donation will go
Every donation will directly support local people to gain practical skills that improve their financial wellbeing and independence.
Our £10,000 target will fund:
£3,500 – Project Coordinator to deliver activities and support volunteers
£1,500 – Venue hire and running costs for the Wellbeing Café & Garden
£1,600 – Gardening equipment, raised beds, tools, compost, seeds and plants
£1,300 – Food and ingredients for community meals and slow cooker sessions
£800 – Volunteer expenses and training
£700 – Money management, gardening and wellbeing workshop resources
£600 – Community engagement, participant resources and project materials
Every pound donated helps someone learn practical skills that reduce food costs, improve budgeting, build confidence and create a more financially secure future.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 30th September 2026 at 11:55pm