Thriving through food: An interview with Marketplace Supervisor, Cindy
Marketplaces top up people’s weekly shop to support people who are struggling. "But struggling doesn’t mean simply not having enough food."
“When people are shopping”, she says, “they chat to you. They tell you about their children and family, they tell you about their food likes, dislikes and intolerances but also the reasons behind them. They talk about how they cook or don’t cook, why they struggle with food, or choose what they do. When you listen to their relationship with food, you glean so much more".
“What’s important is that they feel safe with you and not judged. That’s why Marketplaces are not means-tested” she says, “because that simple judgement is a big barrier for people. It removes any trust that you actually see them, the person, and their reality”.
Cindy talks about how many member challenges have been helped through food. Physical health, mental health, relationships, belonging, emotional wellbeing… hunger can be the least significant thing that Marketplace food resolves.
“Having someone to share the food experience with from shopping, to cooking, to eating together, changes our relationship with food and each other”, Cindy says. “At Marketplace, people enjoy listening to the food ideas and recipes of the volunteers, but then start trying things, cooking more, and coming back and sharing results and ideas of their own. Healthy eating is being established through communities forming to talk about food, while conversations naturally include budgeting, using leftovers, freezing and making food go further.”
“It’s obvious when you think about it. When people are worrying about money, relationship breakdowns or their children’s challenges, they can find themselves in the supermarket operating in crisis mode, buying whatever is quickest, easiest and cheapest. Healthy eating and cooking are the last things on their minds”. Yes, indeed, we’ve all been there! And this is where Cindy and her team support people to fall in love with food again, to enjoy cooking, discover that they can do it too, and to bond and build confidence through shared recipes and experiences.
And look at what that can change.
She tells me about a gentleman who joined the Marketplace with a health condition that meant he couldn’t eat many types of protein. Without the awareness or appetite for other options, he had simply stopped eating it altogether, creating further health problems. Cindy introduced him to pulses and, when he was unsure how to use them, she brought in one of her favourite chickpea dishes for him that she had cooked at home. He loved it. That small act began a journey of discovering new foods and simple cooking. His health has since transformed.
Another gentleman, close to renal failure, was about to be placed on the dialysis list. Through Marketplace and encouragement to eat a more varied diet, 18 months later he is still avoiding dialysis! But it has meant more than that. Before, when his health deteriorated and he could no longer eat certain foods or live as he once had, he found his friends fell away. But he noticed how the team at Marketplace, when they made cakes or snacks to share, they cooked gluten free options especially for him. He made known to Cindy that the care people took to make him feel wanted, and the lack of judgement, has restored his faith in people and he has found a place where he belongs again.
Another lady, living with acute type 1 diabetes, complex health conditions and cancer treatment, had become overwhelmed and lost interest in food. Her blood glucose and vitamin levels were suffering as a result and her health was going downhill. The Marketplace team encouraged her to explore different foods, ways of cooking and enjoyable things to eat and share. Her doctor has since told her that her blood situation has stabilised and she’s turned a corner! She is now seeing the benefit with the rest of her health too.
I asked Cindy about what it’s like to work in the Marketplace environment and she was clear about how rewarding she’s found it. “You can find your specialism here, what you’re good at, and you can learn so much too”. She said, “I watched the vicars when they came in and how they spoke to people. They were a brilliant example. I started doing what they did, and it has really helped me reach more people. I can now teach that to other volunteers. They also reassured me in my abilities and invested in me to develop my skills. I personally love talking to people, but even if you struggle with personal conversations, you can help with cooking or teaching skills, there’s a place for everyone to belong as a member or volunteer”.
If you would like to support this important work for our communities through Southampton City Mission,
please consider giving here or donating food. Thank you so much!