Late last year in Waltham Forest, we launched our Welcome Meals initiative. It aims to mobilise neighbours to create a network of support in the community for new residents by bringing people together through food. These meals are lunches and dinners in which new residents can meet and socialise with fellow members of the community. Here, they can learn about the area they live in, share skills, knowledge and opportunities, and make friends. Nearly 50 such events will take place over the next 18 months.

The Welcome Meals is part of our Connecting Communities programme. Waltham Forest is one of five local authorities in England – including Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford, Peterborough and Walsall – working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to rethink and trial new ways local authorities can approach integration and cohesion in our communities.