An East Oxford community cafe reports success in a free food scheme to help those in need.
The initiative is called “Me and You” and it makes sure everyone has access to a hot meal.
A charitable organisation, Flo’s the Place in the Park, owns Flo’s Cafe where the Me and You scheme had been implemented in January of 2024. Me and You recognises that everyone should have access to healthy meals - regardless of their budget.
This initiative reimagines how creating access to food can be an avenue for community building, supporting the principles of choice, dignity and autonomy.
How does the scheme work?
If you want to use Me and You, you take a token by the till and hand it to one of the cafe staff. This will tell the cafe staff that you will be using the Me and You program to access a free meal.
Becca, Business Development Coordinator of Flo’s Cafe, said that the scheme has been very well received and customers have appreciated the flexibility and discreet nature of using the token. She adds that customers have also been generous in their support for the scheme.
The Me and You initiative appeals to many different people. Some are single parent families needing a helping hand over school holidays. Others are elderly folk who are looking for somewhere warm to connect and enjoy a drink.
Becca says the usership of Me and You are “really representative of the spirit of Flo’s - that everyone is welcome and will be treated with kindness and dignity.”
Further Information
Flo’s Cafe was initially run by the charitable community benefit society, People, Place and Participation Ltd. (PPP), but now has become a wholly owned subsidiary. Flo’s the Place in the Park currently has 30 employees and 80% of the funding comes from the revenue generated from Flos Cafe, the refill shop, room hire, and nursery.
To find out more information on Flo’s Cafe and how to donate to the Me and You scheme please visit www.flosoxford.org.uk or on Instagram at @flosoxford.