About Us
Welcome to Divi, where culinary passion meets unparalleled hospitality.
From Struggles to Smiles: Nourishing and Empowering Our Community
Our Story
Struggles2Smiles began with a simple but powerful idea: that access to healthy food, meaningful work, and a supportive community can transform lives. Since 2020, we have grown from a grassroots food bank into a holistic social enterprise serving the people of Cardiff and the wider South Wales area. In partnership with organisations like Boomerang Cardiff, we continue to expand our reach and impact, turning personal struggles into community smiles.
Our Mission
We believe that everyone deserves a warm meal, a chance to learn new skills, and a place where they feel they belong. Our mission is to tackle food poverty and social exclusion by combining sustainable food production, culinary training, and community engagement. Every project we run – from our café to our farm-to-plate initiative – is designed to nourish both body and soul.
What We Do
Community Café & Lounge:
Our café, located opposite Victoria Park in Canton, Cardiff, is more than a place to eat. It’s a hub for fellowship where all profits are reinvested into our programmes. We serve a varied menu featuring fresh, wholesome dishes and weekend BBQ street food, while also hosting dementia-friendly coffee mornings, workshops and live events.
Training & Employment:
We offer accredited training and hands-on experience to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. To date, 36 participants have completed our programmes and moved into employment. The café, catering services and community kitchen provide the perfect environment to learn culinary skills, front-of-house management and customer service.
Food Bank & Outreach:
Each week we operate a hot food bank that donates between 300 and 500 meals to homeless individuals and families across South Wales. Since 2020 we have provided more than 100 000 hot meals, ensuring that no one in our community has to go hungry. For us, it’s not just about feeding people; it’s about turning meals into smiles and offering a sense of dignity and care.
Sustainable Farming:
We are developing a unique urban farming project that supplies our café with seasonal produce. Within the next six months, we will introduce special farm-to-plate menus featuring vegetables, herbs and fruits grown by our team and volunteers. This initiative reduces food miles, cuts our carbon footprint and educates our community about sustainable living.
Our Impact
By blending enterprise with compassion, Struggles2Smiles is creating tangible change. Our programmes help break cycles of poverty by providing training, employment and nutritious food. The young people we support gain confidence, qualifications and work experience that open doors to long-term opportunities. Families and individuals in crisis find respite through our food bank and outreach services. Our café brings together people from all walks of life, fostering understanding and belonging.
Our Future
We are continually expanding and innovating. In the coming year, we will roll out more workshops, collaborate with local farmers and chefs, and invite the community to participate in our growing projects. We also plan to scale up our training programmes, with the goal of preparing dozens more young people for careers in hospitality and beyond. Above all, we remain committed to our vision of a society where everyone has the resources and support they need to thrive.
Thank you for being part of our journey. Whether you visit the café, volunteer your time, or support us through donations, you are helping to build a brighter, more inclusive future for Cardiff and South Wales.
Every contribution helps us turn hunger into hope by funding hot meals for families in need and providing training and employment opportunities for young people. Please consider donating today—together we can transform struggles into smiles across our community.
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