Bradford College
Welcome Café: Nourishing Communities, Reducing Waste
Winner, Benefitting Society
Finalist, International
About
The Welcome Café is a partnership between Bradford College, Bradford Council, and the Millside Centre, that has offered refugees and people seeking asylum the opportunity to gain practical training in catering and hospitality. Based in a warm and inclusive community space, the café has transformed surplus food into nutritious vegan meals inspired by global cuisines; celebrating culture while reducing food waste. This initiative has promoted health, wellbeing, and environmental responsibility while fostering social inclusion and employability. For people who have fled their home countries, it has offered more than skills; it has restored confidence, purpose, and a sense of belonging. For the wider community, it has been a place to connect, share anaffordable, nutritious meal, and combat loneliness. For those living in temporary accommodation without access to kitchens, these meals have often been a lifeline. The Welcome Café has shown how compassion, creativity, and collaboration can nourish both people and planet, creating lasting impact across communities and generations.
Top 3 learnings
- Learn as you go and let the project evolve gradually.
- Consult with the learners and let them take the lead.
- Keep it simple - don't be too ambitious with the menus!
What is means to win
‘At Bradford College, sustainability isn’t a policy; it’s a lived experience, which is clearly demonstrated in the Welcome Café project. We are proud to be winners, allowing us to showcase how education transforms lives. Students have not only learned English but found their voice, their confidence, and their place.’
Chris Webb, CEO Bradford College
Sustainable Development Goals
| 2026 | |
| Benefitting Society | |
| Winner, UK and Ireland Finalist, International |
