Project Proposal: Adult Volunteer Placements – Food & Cooking
Project Focus: Independent cooking, life and employment skills for adults, particularly those with learning or support needs.
1. Summary
Our Adult Volunteer Placements is all about providing high quality, supportive and accessible volunteer placement tailored specifically for adults with learning disabilities and support needs, and older young people. Operating out of Monty’s Community Hub in Sholing, the project aims to foster independence, reduce social isolation, develop life and employment skills and improve overall health and well-being.
By utilising surplus ingredients sourced via Monty’s Community Pantry, the project also champions environmental sustainability while teaching participants how to create nutritious, budget-friendly meals.
2. Project Rationale
Adults with learning disabilities and support needs face disproportionate challenges regarding independent living, health outcomes, and social inclusion. Local data and community feedback highlight three major compounding factors in our neighbourhood:
● The Independence Gap: Many individuals rely heavily on support workers or family members for basic daily tasks. A lack of confidence in the kitchen often leads to a reliance on pre-packaged, processed foods.
● Health Inequalities: Public Health England notes that individuals with learning disabilities are at a significantly higher risk of obesity and related chronic illnesses due to dietary barriers.
● Social Isolation: Post-pandemic, safe spaces for vulnerable adults to socialise, build friendships, and learn practical skills concurrently have drastically diminished in the eastern wards of Southampton.
Monty’s is uniquely positioned to address this. We have a proven and trusted track record of including a wide spectrum of volunteers, and this project will enable us to invest more capacity in tailoring volunteer opportunities to adults with additional support needs. Our ethos of generous hospitality, provides an inclusive, familiar, and non-judgmental environment where participants can thrive.
www.montys.org.uk
hub@montys.org.uk
Charity Number: 1155649