It started with a hot meal – Nirmal’s story

Community climate action can happen in the most unexpected places. In this case, it starts amid the sound of children laughing, bikes rattling over tarmac and the thud of footballs against fences.

But Felix Road Adventure Playground at Eastside Community Trust is more than swings and climbing frames. Six days a week, kids can turn up, no questions asked, and get a hot meal cooked for them. For some, it’s a treat at the end of a busy day. For others, it’s something they rely on. Either way, everyone is welcome.

For almost 15 years, Nirmal has been at the heart of this space. Her role is to make sure families can access nourishing food, learn where it comes from and feel at home.

Alongside outdoor activities, food has become a vital part of what happens at Felix Road Adventure Playground.

This project is supported by the Climate Action Fund (CAF). CAF supports communities across the UK to act on climate change and involve more people in environmental action. It is part of the wider Community Climate & Nature Action Project coordinated by Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership.

Finding a way in

Nirmal first came to Felix Road by joining some cost-saving workshops focused on the environment. She took part as a community member, learning practical ways to save money and energy at home.

As she became more involved, Felix Road suggested she share her knowledge in a short energy-saving video. She was hesitant – she didn’t want to be on camera – but she agreed to try. And it was one of the best decisions she made!

The videos shared simple, useful ideas like:

• batch cooking
• getting the most out of your freezer
• keeping homes warm

Videos used English, Punjabi and Somali to help more people in the community access the information.

What started as taking part soon grew into something more. The videos opened the door for Nirmal to deepen her involvement at Felix Road. She used her skills, confidence and experience in new ways to support the community.

From workshops to the kitchen

Alongside the workshops, Nirmal became involved in the community garden at Felix Road. Volunteers and kids grew vegetables like cabbage, pumpkins, potatoes and tomatoes. For many kids, it was the first time they had seen how food grows or tried new vegetables. Meals became a chance to learn, as well as eat. Together, they harvested the food, washed it and discussed how they’d cook it.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience managing a local takeaway, Nirmal saw an opportunity. She suggested using the vegetables grown on site to cook meals for the community. This celebrated different cultures, tastes and flavours.

With support from the Climate Action Fund, that idea turned into a paid role. Nirmal became the kitchen coordinator and led the community kitchen. She also helped to make hot meals a natural and welcoming part of open access play sessions, rather than something separate from the day.

A place where everyone is welcome

Today, Nirmal runs the kitchen at Felix Road, providing free hot meals 6 days a week. The service began during COVID-19 and continues because the need is still there.

There is a simple rule: no questions asked. Any child under 16 who wants a meal gets one. On Sundays, families come together for shared meals, with celebrations like Diwali, Christmas or Easter bringing in up to 300 people.

Veg comes from the garden where possible, supported by leftover organic produce from partners. They plan meals around the seasons, with growing and cooking working hand in hand.

More than food

Food is the starting point, but the impact goes further. Kids learn where food comes from. Parents connect over a cup of tea. Some young people who came for meals years ago now return as volunteers.

After almost 15 years at Felix Road, Nirmal is a familiar and much-loved face.

“It’s like a big family. Everybody’s happy – somebody’s playing, somebody’s being naughty. It’s just a big hub where people come together.” – Nirmal, Kitchen Coordinator at Felix Road Adventure Playground

Get started

By supporting local spaces like Felix Road, we help communities use the skills they have to meet local needs. The learning continues, shaped by the people who show up every day.

We support environmental projects of all shapes and sizes. We offer grants from £300 to £20,000 through our open access Awards for All programme, up to grants over £500,000 through our Climate Action Fund. Find out more about environment funding in your area and apply