A Food and Friendship ‘Story Cafe’ Event for Interfaith Week 2025

This Interfaith Week we held our latest Food and Friendship event in partnership with Stories & Supper in Waltham Forest’s Harmony Hall. Over delicious curry, dhal, rice and homemade cookies, we swapped stories – from the meanings behind our names and memories of our childhoods to our relationships with home – and made new friends across cultures and faith and belief traditions. In a time where so many communities across the country are struggling to find a place to belong, this event felt like a much-needed safe space – coming together for food and great conversations, in the spirit of welcome and sanctuary.

Food and friendship is Women’s Interfaith Network’s interfaith shared meal project, bringing together WIN’s members from all faiths and none with migrant and refugee communities for food, cooking and friendship.  We believe sharing food helps open up conversations, breaks down barriers and encourages meaningful relationship building between communities.

Attendees included representatives from Waltham Forest Migrant Action, Stow Inspire, Waltham Forest Women’s Network, Waltham Forest Faith Communities Forum as well as local councillor and Cabinet Member for Libraries and Culture, Rosalind Dore. This event was supported by Waltham Forest Council’s Fellowship Fund.

Read some quotes from our attendees:

‘Really lovely to meet new people and hear the stories in their lives.’

‘It was a wonderful time of sharing and listening to each other.’

‘Beautiful event, gorgeous food and great conversations.’

‘I will keep the stories with me.’

Find out more about Food and Friendship here.

Contact [email protected] if you’d like to get involved with this project.