The volunteers at @ekotaacademy play a huge part providing excellent grassroots community programmes. For young people there’s cricket, football and martial arts, and for the elderly there’s Zumba and fitness for women, and walking sports. Volunteers at the Academy which serves Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham have worked for several years to offer coaching and services to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. To help deal with austerity, the winter fuel crisis and the severe financial challenges faced by people, the volunteers are using the Emerald Bistro Cafe at the Ekota Hub to provide company, warmth, friendship and a free hot drink to locals. The Warm Bank is an initiative arranged to help beat isolation and tackle loneliness and mental health amongst vulnerable people. Visitors wishing to participate in this programme should upon arrival mention to staff that they’d like a free hot drink. The @emerald_bistro will also be open on Christmas Day. Ekota Academy and Emerald Bistro - Goodmayes Park, Aberdour Rd, IG3 9PG. #emeraldbistro #ekotaacademy #thewanderinglondoner #warmbank #warmhub #energycrisis #winterfuel #uksnow #uksnowyday #snowpatrol #christmas #redbridge #barkinganddagenham #wintercold #coldwinter #foodpoverty #homeless (at EmeraldBistro) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmFQJzjNaDf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
