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In books of old, ‘the well’ is often at the heart of things. It was literally and symbolically the centre of the community, representing everything that the people needed to endure and thrive. The people gathered, they got what they needed, they went out refreshed.
‘The Well’ is our holistic and practical response to covid-19. We’re using all our resources to serve our community on and around campus in these tough times.
Do you need support from The Well?
We can provide emergency help with food, and offer holistic wellbeing support too. Help is available, don’t wait for a crisis – if you know that you are struggling with food and finances, refer yourself today.
Who do we accept referrals from?
We accept referrals of students and staff from any of the Manchester Universities, or any Hulme resident (M15). You can refer yourself, or refer someone else if you know someone in need of support.
What does The Well offer?
We provide a weekly Well Pack with 7 meal-kits for every night of the week, or ready-made, cooked and frozen meals for those who aren’t able to cook for themselves. There will also be enough groceries to help with lunches, breakfasts and some snacks and treats too. You’ll find recipes and links to step-by-step cookery classes too, along with a diverse programme of nurturing and sustaining good stuff to help you through these tough times.
We provide three different Well Packs, allowing us to respond to the unique needs to each person who refers to The Well:
Well Pack A offers seven dinner-kits a week, with fresh and dry ingredients, recipe cards and online cookery step-by-step classes for each meal – everything made easy so that eating well becomes a simple pleasure.
Well Pack B provides seven pre-cooked, chilled and ready-to-heat meals for those within our community who aren’t able to cook for whatever reason. Prepared and cooked in Milk & Honey, then packaged-up and delivered with love.
Well Pack C is aimed more towards TLC for the soul. If food needs are not at the top of the agenda, we’ll provide inner-glow bakes, cakes and sweet treats, link you in with our nurturing Wholeness programme, and we’re always up for a socially-distanced chat for a bit of human contact too!
In most cases, The Well Packs can be collected from our base of operations at Milk & Honey Café, part of St Peter’s House Chaplaincy. When you make your referral, we’ll ask you about when is best for you to collect your pack. The collection process is safe, contactless and socially distanced.
In some extreme cases, we are able to make deliveries to Well Users from the local area. These will be handled on a case by case basis. We ask that for most Well Users, a collection of your pack will be the normal method of receiving the support.
Directions
There are numerous buses up and down Oxford Road and a cycle rack outside the building, so please either walk, cycle or use public transport.
By foot
From St. Peter’s square in the City Centre, walk straight down Oxford Road passing the All Saints Campus of MMU and the RNCM. Cross all the roads and then when you cross Booth Street East walk for a further 50 metres and St. Peter’s House is located 50 metres along on the left. It’s set back from the road and has stairs to the front door.
Match up the recipe numbers to the cookery-classes and follow along as our team cooks each meal with you. Each dish is quick but tasty, using a few simple and affordable ingredients to create a heart-and-soul-warming dinner for one.
You can find our cooking class videos here.
Our cookery classes with The Well team are available whether you receive a Well Pack or just fancy following a super-simple, tasty and affordable meal. Cooked in Milk & Honey café, join the team as we cook a variety of plant-based and wallet-friendly easy and delicious
dinners.
#allwillbewell
Chef Ben teaches you how to cook Ribolitta in the Milk & Honey café. Follow along and cook up an easy meal full of vegetable goodness.
Join Hannah in the Milk & Honey Café as she cooks Italian Kale & Chickpea Pasta, a really simple yet delicious meal, with plenty left-over for your lunch tomorrow.
Watch as Ben guides us through another wonderful recipe, this time for a Potato & Chickpea curry. Quick and easy to make!
Vegetables, Vegetables and more Vegetables. This versatile soup is packed with delicious vegetables which can easily be swapped for alternatives and still carry the same delicious flavor and taste.
This lovely mix of herbs, courgettes, pasta and chickpeas has a cheeky twist of lemon which really brings out a tang!
Hannah teaches how to cook Chinese Spiced Squash from scratch. You’ll need your oven at 180 degrees, a hot plate to cook on, your recipe card and ingredients. And that’s it… good to go. (ps. watch out for sneak appearance from Bobby the office dog…)
So simple and so scrumptious! Courgettes are softened with herbs and garlic before being stewed with chopped tomatoes.
This is the first dahl we have created for The Well and it won’t be the last. Indian spices, lentils and carrots are the star of this kitchen cupboard staple.
Who doesn’t love a chickpea! We certainly do! This “soupy-stewy thing” really does warm yer’ cockles and the tender chickpeas help to give it an amazingly creamy texture.
Now, there is a simple spud with baked beans or there is this sassy spud with smoky baked beans. Using a few fresh ingredients and special spices you too can make this simple dish stand-out!
A Milk & Honey Café classic, this is one of our most popular dishes on the ever-changing café special board – we look forward to serving it again soon – but until then have a go yourself!
We really hope you enjoy chowing down on this chowder! A lovely creamy, sweet & delicious soup – Souper-douper when enjoyed with granary bread & butter
Butternut squash is easily one of the most versatile vegetables around and this dish really showcases its ability to absorb spices in the sweetest & spiciest way!
Make this Milk & Honey Classic at home! Here we have used tinned mushrooms instead of fresh to make this lighter on the purse but still super healthy for the heart!
Tangy tomatoes and peppers with a hit of smoked paprika. Watch Chris put together one of our quickest & tastiest recipes ever.
A sweet-spice delight reminiscent of a North African tagine. Our aromatic spide blend really brings this together, but if you don't have this to hand you could use Indian garam masala or Moroccan ras el hanout.
Mushy peas! In a soup! You ight think we've gone mad but oh no! This big fill could do you a couple of big lunches and the green veggies really sing with a zing of lemony goodness!
Showcasing the wonkiest of potatoes this warm salads is wholesome and flavourful. Get your peeler & chopper at the ready this is gonna taste great!
Caponata is a classic Sicilian dish - this is not that! But it has been inspired by it. Diced courgettes in a tangy sauce, this would also be perfect topped with olives if you have any at hand.
Our second dahl at The Well - this recipe is incredibly versatile and this version is totally scrumptious served with naan breads & riata for a proper fill, or simple with some granary bread like we've used!
These sweetly spiced braised vegetables would be great as part of a roast dinner. We've served it with rice & spiced chickpeas to make things a little more exotic.
Our smoky Creole spice blend is at the heart of this big flavour soup that turns humble tins into something delicious, notorious and a heart-warming fill.
On the wall in Milk & Honey, we have a mural, drawn by a friend of ours when we opened two-and-a-half years ago. “We believe in the abundant good in our fine city of Manchester”, it begins…. Lockdown has shown us just how fragile much of life is – including our food supply. At Milk & Honey we work with local suppliers, and also with growers to use up surplus harvests to minimise food waste.
The Well Project has been able to take things further, drawing on the desire of so many to work together to tackle the problems caused by COVID-19. We’re working with smaller partners organisations who share our vision – some are donating freshly baked loaves each week, whilst others who work across the country to redistribute surplus food from the food industry. From Foodbanks to farmers, urban growers to local family wholesalers… we’re grateful for all the support. You’re helping us make The Well happen.
“Good things come together at Milk & Honey café.”
Get in touch for more information or to work with us: thewell@stpeters.org.uk
The Wholeness Programme at St Peter’s House has developed over the past few years, and is now based is our beautiful, onsite Wholeness Studio. We work with friends and trusted colleagues to deliver a programme that is unique and nurturing, focussed on restoring and honouring wholeness in the full human experience.
Whilst our Studio is closed, we have decided to make our programme available at no cost to all visitors to St Peters House – digital as they may be! We invite you to explore our programme of Studio Sessions, podcasts, classes, blogs and meditations, and hope that you will find your time with us gentle, inspiring and restorative.
A range of accessible videos – free for all to use and enjoy – designed to challenge, invigorate and restore.
For The Well and community members area please see link below.
Suitable for all. Enjoy, my friend.
Pretty much beginner, may as well have a go if you’re fit and well
A bit of a step on, but you may surprise yourself. Sit out anything you’re not sure
about.
Do this if you know your way around a yoga mat.
You know you’ve got this.
Step away from your computer, and put down your phone… This class will teach you skills that you can break down and use in smaller sections throughout your day, or enjoy in this longer sequence designed to help your muscles and mind unwind from the stresses of desk- based life. Your twenty-first century body, all scrunched up and stiff, will thank you for it. (42 mins) Level 2
Covid has caused a cuddle-catastrophe. Everyone needs hugs to release oxytocin – the famous ‘cuddle hormone’ that helps us feel good and keeps our bodies happy. With self- isolation and social distancing – where is the love?! This session teaches self-massage to soothe our lonely souls and simple yoga practice to bring a sense of peace. (42 mins) Level 2
All balled up with grudges, niggles and gripes? Or maybe you’re carrying a really deep anger - at a person, at the world, or at how things are turning out this year. Either way, we carry it in our bodies, and it’s not good. This session incorporates meditation and simple yoga moves to allow us to begin to explore and release some of these strong emotions. (52 Mins) Level 2
Having trouble winding down? This session is designed to help you switch off and ease into a good night’s sleep. Using gentle movement and with focus on the breath, the session uses accessible and simple yoga practices to gently move our wired up bodies into a deep place of relaxation. Sound good to anyone? (50 mins) Level 2
There are 42 individual muscles in the face. I wonder how many of them you are tensing up even whilst reading this on a screen? These short sessions will relax, mobilise and increase blood flow round your face and neck area. Do it at your desk, on your sofa… but maybe not on the bus (silly faces are involved.) (15 mins) Level 1
There are 42 individual muscles in the face. I wonder how many of them you are tensing up even whilst reading this on a screen? These short sessions will relax, mobilise and increase blood flow round your face and neck area. Do it at your desk, on your sofa… but maybe not on the bus (silly faces are involved.) (15 mins) Level 1
In this practice, Amy focuses on the breath to explore a range of sensations within the body. Gentle and accessible, this session will help you switch off from distractions as you become fully present - taking time to notice what’s going on with you right now. (20 mins)
You’ll relate to this story, and the need to learn to accept things as they are. (7 minutes)
This story asks what risks you have been afraid to take so far? (20 mins)
What kind of counter-culture could we create if we treated each other with respect, honour and wonder? (10 mins)
Azariah draws on Cherokee tribal wisdom to point to the battle waging in all of us. (3 mins)
Azariah shares what makes him not fit the template, and why the world needs people who see the world in unique ways right now. (4 mins)
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
Over these meditations, Selena explores the Chinese concept of Wuxing – a flow in which the five elements of nature work to generate and overcome each other. Recorded in both English and Mandarin, the meditations draw on both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.both ancient Chinese and symbolism from other faiths to explore how this concept works for our well-being.
This practice is as old as time can remember, a practice that utilizes waveforms and frequencies similar to those of our own physiology. Craig Winterburn is an IPHM Approved Holistic Therapist and in this video, he provides meditation and reflection to help align the mind for the full gong bath therapy session.
Using an ancient meditation created by St. Ignatius, Ben leads us through an exercise in imagining ourselves into another story. Using Christian scripture, Ben Invites us to allow our minds to wander. Who will you encounter, and what words will you hear on your journey? (11 mins)
"I'm not an expert", begins Ben...and loads of us aren't, but meditation can be a brilliant tool to add to your 'wellbeing tool-kit' at times of stress, anxiety or pretty much anytime. Ben talks us through the basics and starts from the beginning, before guiding us through a short meditation - perfect for newcomers to this peaceful practice. (18 mins).
Switch off from your screen and listen along to our short wonderings…
#ALLWILLBEWELL
