Based near Kempshott Village Hall the Basingstoke charity Inspero was set up to support the community to be healthier, teaching children about growing food, food preparation and the outdoors.
Now in its 10th year, and 8 years at the community garden in Stratton Park, Kempshott, Inspero is led by the inspirational Catherine Waters-Clark.
Maria Miller MP said, “Inspero work at a grassroots level with young people and adults, educating them about food by supporting them to grow, harvest, prepare and cook fresh produce.
“Catherine is an inspiration, along with her team of volunteers, building bridges between the generations, increasing wellbeing, and improving the quality of life of everyone that attends the charity’s classes”.
Inspero supports its volunteers who have health problems and disabilities, organises a foodbank at Kempshott Village Hall, and a community shop and fridge open one day a week but is open three days a week for emergency food parcels and referrals. Benefiting from food donations by local stores - Sainsbury’s Kempshott, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi, Waitrose and also Greggs, the food bank has delivered 2-3 tons of food a week, the charity also donates excess food to local charities including YMCA, May Place Homeless Shelter, and the Camrose Homeless Shelter.
Supporting over 500 people in the local community Inspero is 70% grant funded by Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council but the charity is looking to increase its core funding to ensure its ongoing stability and sustainability. This will enable it to continue to promote local seasonal food, produced in urban gardens in the local community.
