Bread Shed
Bread Shed is our project aimed at tackling isolation amongst the older members of our community. It’s all about getting together, baking, chatting, and making connections. Run over a period of months, its proving to be a really beneficial experience for those involved.
The philosophy behind Bread Shed echoes that of the Men’s Shed movement, who state “Sheds are about meeting like-minded people and having someone to share your worries with. They are about having fun, sharing skills and knowledge with like-minded people and gaining a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.” In giving people the chance of baking together we aim to reduce isolation and feelings of loneliness, allowing participants to reconnect with the community they are part of.
Thank you Paula for the recipe attachments and a really lovely morning at the Bread Shed today. The rest of my day was so much more relaxed because of it and I’ve been able to let some of the other hassles today slide passed without getting uptight. I can’t wait for the next session.
Festive Openings
As we come to the end of the year, here are our opening times over the festive period. Our last bake of 2020 will be the Saturday before Christmas, with all breads needing to be pre-ordered. Please drop into the Bakehouse or email before the end of Thursday 19th December if you want to place an order for collection on Saturday 21st.
The team at Stoneham Bakehouse would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all our customers and supporters. Without you the Bakehouse wouldn’t be able to make the impact it does across the community. So, THANK YOU, and have a great Christmas and New Year. We’ll be back baking on Thursday 9th January.
Summer Break and a Recharge
As you’re aware, we have a core value of promoting good mental health and wellbeing, and our work across the business has this as a focus. With this in mind, we’ll be taking our usual Summer break during the second half of August. Our last bake before the break will be on August 10th, with us returning to bake in September. So why not stock up your freezer with some of our delicious bread – you can even get it sliced at the Bakehouse before you go.
During this time we’ll be getting on with some planning, as well as importantly giving us a chance to recharge and spend time with families and friends. Thanks so much for all of your support over the last few months. We really appreciate it. Have a great Summer.
A Community Supported Bakery
We’re sometimes asked what a community supported bakery is. So, I thought I’d explain what it means to us. To us it’s a combination of different aspects that make us different from a ‘normal bakery’.
Firstly, and importantly, we were helped to set up our little Bakehouse by a successful crowdfunding campaign. A crowdfunding campaign which got 273 backers, the majority of which were from the local community. They really bought in to the project, bringing us much needed funding, but the confidence that this was a business which the community wanted.
Secondly, we have a volunteer team of bakers who bake our delicious bread Thursday-Saturday. Our team is made of people from across the community; by people from different ages and backgrounds. They bake for different reasons; whether it’s just to be able to bake more than they do at home, to be involved in a community business, or to support their wellbeing through baking. We pride ourselves in the way the team brings people together, and makes the Bakehouse a place where the community can come to meet, chat, and of course buy bread.
Finally, and most importantly, we work with groups, using breadmaking as a way to nourish the community. From local schools, to young carers, refugees, to older members of society, we want to share how baking bread can support our community. Projects like our BreadShed project for example, which works with older people to tackle isolation through getting together at the Bakehouse to bake bread, chat, and connect.
As a social enterprise we use the profits from the sale of our bread and workshops to support and fund these projects. So every loaf, bagel, bun, workshop, apron or tote bag you buy helps us to nourish the community. It helps us to be a community supported bakery. It helps us make a difference to the wellbeing of the community.
THANK YOU.
EASTER OPENINGS
It’s fast approaching Easter, and the need for baking Hot Cross Buns is growing stronger.
As with last year, we will be baking the traditional buns on Good Friday (19th) morning, before having the afternoon and the Saturday (20th) to spend time with family and friends. Usual opening hours will resume after the Easter weekend.
Doors will open at 10am as usual, so come along and join the queue to get Poets’ Corner’s finest Hot Cross Buns. Importantly, for every bun you buy you will be helping us to run projects with members of the community, using breadmaking to support wellbeing. April is Stress Awareness Month, and it’s good to remember that for many stress can have a massive effect on their wellbeing.
