New families, new hope in REAP

Two weeks ago we start our “Roma Education Aspiration Project” workshops in Gtdt and Kensington Community Learning Centre.

We are glad that we have the opportunity to continue the project and to support Roma families from Liverpool. The first workshops was about to understand what the REAP programme is about and to look at how we have achieved in our previous educational experiences. The second one was about to understand what ‘identity’ is and what it means to us. Our new families enjoyed the start of the project and are happy that they find a place where they can socialize and meet new Roma families.  We identify also the Roma Young People who they start to participate in our sessions. One of the sessions was to show them different career opportunities. On 5^th December the Roma Young People meet the Gipsy Roma Traveller Police Association in Cheshire.  They were happy to meet with Roma role models, Armando one of the participants say “Now that I see a Roma Police Officer I am keen that I can be a cop and my family to be proud of my achievements”

Liverpool Echo Article - The Liverpool brewery leading the way on health craze sweeping the US

The Liverpool Echo have written a lovely article on one of our Enterprise Hub businesses.

"Ruth Joseph from the Healthy Gut Company brews kombucha - a fizzy fermented tea drink - out of a unit in Parliament Business Park

A Toxteth business park is the location for a brewery with a difference, creating a non-alcoholic drink called kombucha, which is made from fermented tea.

The drink, which is popular in America, is becoming more widely known in the UK and Ruth Joseph at the Healthy Gut Company, based in Parliament Business Park, is determined to raise awareness of the naturally fizzy "versatile" tea-based drink in Liverpool.

Ruth Joseph from the Healthy Gut Company(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)

Kombucha is a type of fermented tea drink made with tea and a starter culture and brewed in a temperature-controlled space. The drink develops a natural fizz as a result of the fermentation process and fruits and spices are then added to create a range of flavours.

Ruth Joseph, who founded the Healthy Gut Company two years ago, started experimenting with kombucha after her husband was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, and she spent "hours in the kitchen every night making juices" to help boost her husband's immune system as he battled the disease.

"I was actually introduced to kombucha by my friend Julia who also works with me now."
Ruth Joseph with her regular stall at Granby Market(Image: Lisa Rand)

Ruth continued: "I've always done Granby market, I've lived in the area 15 years and Granby Market has been going for about 10 years now and I have always had a stall selling something - it's such a nice community occasion.

"I thought that I would try with the juices at the market. My husband made me a stall where I dispensed the drinks, but I also created a resource library and people would loved to stop to talk about health matters.
Ruth with one of her products(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)

"I read up more and got three different cultures, including kombucha, and I tried them out at the market.

"I realised how popular kombucha could be here, like it is in Canada and America, as it's such a versatile juice and suitable for everyone.

"Kombucha is vegan, non-alcoholic and there is no forced carbonation - the gentle fizz comes out naturally in the process. I realised I could make a business and build it."

With help from her business adviser Darren at Granby Toxteth Development Trust, Ruth began to turn her idea into a reality and started the Healthy Gut Company in 2017."
To read the full Liverpool Echo article click here.

Another food donation from Sainsburys

GTDT received another call from Beccy asking if we were available to pick up yet another food donation from the Woolton store so off Jordan and I went.
We couldn't believe how much food people had donated within the last 2 weeks.
Thank you to Beccy at Woolton Sainsburys and all the mystery shoppers who put the food in our collection bin.

Half of the food we collected has been separated into hampers and the other half have been given to the needy in the Liverpool 8 area.

Big Climate Fight Back

What a lovely afternoon we had on the Seven Streets Garden planting some fruit bushes in our campaign to support the Woodlands Trust Big Climate Fight Back.

We where joined by Cllr. Laura Robertson Collins, the Cabinet member for Environment and Sustainability and many local children to start planting the first bushes for our incredible edible type of hedge.

We will be continuing to plant our edible hedge in early 2020, so keep posted for more activities that you can get involved in.

Love to Learn with GTDT

Would you like to participate in one of our community learning courses or do you have an idea or a group that want to learn something different?  Pop into our Open Mornings on Wednesday 11 December or Wednesday 18 December and tell us more!