Lunch Club

You are invited to come and experience what goes on at the Lunch Club on a Monday.  Not all at once but if you let us know there will be a place and a welcome for you and our regular guests would be happy to meet you.  We meet each Monday between 12.30 and 2.00.

Each week around 30 older and sometimes vulnerable people are provided with a good, 2 course cooked meal, fruit juice and a hot drink.  They enjoy the meal and importantly the companionship.  They regard themselves as part of the Mint and a good number join in with activities and worship. 

The meal is provided by the experienced cook / trainer and a changing team of youngsters, who are serving hours paying back to the community for crimes they have committed.  Each week they are provided with the opportunity to experience a good working day, and to attain experience and qualifications in catering and food hygiene.  They learn new skills, to work as a team and to come into contact with the church family.  They are MUCH appreciated by the diners, who often go out of their way to encourage and appreciate the food provided.  They begin to enjoy working here and being appreciated.  The diners and volunteers often go out of their way to encourage the youngsters and they are always included in the prayer said before the meal.

Each week the Mint provides a team of 4 volunteers to welcome and chat to the diners and to assist as necessary especially with taking the money (£5) and managing the lifts.  We need more volunteers. If you could you join the team once or twice a quarter it would be really helpful (and you wouldn’t need to cook and wash up that day!)

Have a chat with Fran York or Barbara Pillidge if you would like to find out more or to come and try out a meal

The Mint is a busy place on a Monday morning. Early on the chef, Issie, arrives. She is followed shortly after by the team of 6 to 8 trainees, duly kitted out in their whites and ready to learn more kitchen skills and to prepare a meal for Lunch Club members. They cook a variety of dishes and a pattern is emerging of a fortnightly roast interspersed by other dishes so that they experience different techniques. Issie'sskill and experience ensures we have a 2 course delicious meal. All this for £5.

At noon - or even before - the members of the Lunch Club start to congregate in the reception area and the noise level rises. Lots of chatting and anticipation of what will be on the menu. Our numbers are rising steadily and we have about 40 names on the list with a steady 30 present at any one meal.Then it's up the stairs or by lift to the Rowe Hall to take seats ready for dinner. Andrew often pops in to say hello and to say grace. If not Ernest Dickenson kindly takes on this role. Then the trainees practise their waiting skills and pour the fruit juice, bring the vegetables and serve out the meal. When asked who made the pudding wide smiles show real pride taken in their achievement.

The chef is hoping to extend the trainees' experience by preparing cakes or bread or soup from time to time so that these can be taken home for a tea time treat.

If you, or someone you know, would be interested in attending the Lunch Club, please have a chat with Margaret Stirling, Fran York or Barbara Pillidge. Unfortunately we cannot provide lifts.

We are also hoping that a few people will be willing to help occasionally as volunteers: the duties are light - just helping our guests as necessary with the lift, joining in the chat and enjoying the meal. Please have a word with Fran York.

PS: Excess fruit or vegetables from your gardens would be welcomed by the chef on a Monday morning - or they can be delivered to Gabriel House in Smythen Street

Lunch Club – An appreciation

An article by Maurice Foster printed in the December 2011 issue of Forward" Magazine

Each Monday we gather in Reception, enjoy meeting with friends and register our attendance.  It is at this pre-meal gathering that Mint volunteers play a significant role in welcoming everyone by name and I am glad of this opportunity to use FORWARD to express the gratitude, not only of myself, but I am sure of everyone who attends, for the welcome and friendship shown each Monday.

Lunch is served at 12.30, the Probation Service providing pleasant and efficient staffing.  We are served a two course meal, always of a high standard, and cakes made by the staff get purchased afterwards very quickly.

As a result of being introduced to “Mondays” by Margaret and Alan, I’ve really enjoyed the friendship of Mint folk and as a lifelong member of Southernhay URC Church I like to think this is helping the cause of ecumenism

Maurice Foster(Margaret Bullock’s Dad)

Maurice tells me that using the Rowe Hall each Monday reminds him that his father spent all of his working life in the employ of the Rowe family business of Builders Merchants which occupied the building now housing Exeter college in Queen Street - and he held the family in great respect.  Also, his mother was a pupil of the Mint Day School!

News from the Lunch Club: 

One kitchen trainee from Lunch Club has just got employment at a local pub as a kitchen porter and waiter following his practical training at the Mint.  He is hoping to go on to further kitchen work in future and has enjoyed the support of the Lunch Club guests.