Posted: Wednesday - April 3, 2019 9:24 am     

Personal tragedy was the catalyst for Steven Doig to do something quite remarkable in one of Nottingham’s most hard-pressed areas.

In 2014, Steven established the Growin Spaces Café in Saint Christopher’s Church Hall in Sneinton – one of the city’s most economically challenged areas. He did so after his teenage son tragically died and he suffered from a crippling depression.
“I just shut myself off from society,” says Steven. “We will never understand why it happened and it hurt us all terribly.”
At his lowest ebb, Steven estimates he was drinking two litres of brandy every day. But after being warned by doctors he would lose his pancreas if he continued, he decided to face up to his demons.
Having always enjoyed cooking, Steven set up the community cafe in the church hall. It would have been a pipe dream, he says, were it not for the fact he was able to become a FareShare East Midlands Member, which provides him with the food he needs to make his café dream a reality.
Every Thursday night, up to 40 diners tuck into delicious meals prepared by Steve and his dedicated team. And, as his reputation soars locally, the café’s future looks increasingly rosy.
FareShare East Midlands is delighted to have been able help Steven realise his ambitions in the wake of such an upsetting personal tragedy. And for the last few years, it has been a real privilege to support his café, as it continues to make a real impact in the Sneinton community.
“Steven is an inspiration to us all,” commented Simone Connolly of FareShare East Midlands. “He was faced with something no parent wants to confront – the death of a child. And he has channeled his energy into doing some amazing work in his local community.”
I just shut myself off from society. We will never understand why it happened and it hurt us all terribly.
Personal tragedy helps chef realise his community dream | Case Studies | FareShare Midlands - Fighting hunger, tackling food waste in the UK

Case Studies

Personal tragedy helps chef realise his community dream

Posted: Wednesday - April 3, 2019 9:24 am     

Personal tragedy was the catalyst for Steven Doig to do something quite remarkable in one of Nottingham’s most hard-pressed areas.

In 2014, Steven established the Growin Spaces Café in Saint Christopher’s Church Hall in Sneinton – one of the city’s most economically challenged areas. He did so after his teenage son tragically died and he suffered from a crippling depression.
“I just shut myself off from society,” says Steven. “We will never understand why it happened and it hurt us all terribly.”
At his lowest ebb, Steven estimates he was drinking two litres of brandy every day. But after being warned by doctors he would lose his pancreas if he continued, he decided to face up to his demons.
Having always enjoyed cooking, Steven set up the community cafe in the church hall. It would have been a pipe dream, he says, were it not for the fact he was able to become a FareShare East Midlands Member, which provides him with the food he needs to make his café dream a reality.
Every Thursday night, up to 40 diners tuck into delicious meals prepared by Steve and his dedicated team. And, as his reputation soars locally, the café’s future looks increasingly rosy.
FareShare East Midlands is delighted to have been able help Steven realise his ambitions in the wake of such an upsetting personal tragedy. And for the last few years, it has been a real privilege to support his café, as it continues to make a real impact in the Sneinton community.
“Steven is an inspiration to us all,” commented Simone Connolly of FareShare East Midlands. “He was faced with something no parent wants to confront – the death of a child. And he has channeled his energy into doing some amazing work in his local community.”
I just shut myself off from society. We will never understand why it happened and it hurt us all terribly.

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