Recently BBCA secretary, Nick Compton, participated in a Corporate Social Responsibility volunteering day with the Brussels charity Serve the City.

“It was a great experience,” he says. “Seven of us went from my company, DENSO, we paid the charity €65 each plus the cost  of the food. We prepared 400 lunches and served them to homeless people in Brussels.”

Nick and his colleagues (above, Nick on the far left) prepared and packed the drinks, bread and bananas, but the hot food was delivered from the Community Kitchen that operates out of the Holy Trinity church. BBCA supported the kitchen through our 2023 Christmas party raffle.

“Serve the City prepare two meals a day and provide daytime shelter for anyone,” Nick continues. “There are 7000 homeless people in Brussels according to latest estimates. Many of the homeless are anglophone and the charity uses English, French and Dutch to communicate with the people it supports. They work with BSB and other schools to provide volunteering experience.”

About Serve the City

From a small beginning in Brussels in 2005, Serve the City is now active or starting in 65 cities around the world.

Serve the City is a global movement of volunteers showing kindness in practical ways to people in need. It partners with homeless shelters, refugee centres, and other associations, offering help and support. Serve the City creates events that mobilise volunteers to serve in simple ways – sports, music, arts and crafts, meals, friendship and more. The organisation works to make the connection between the good intentions and talents of people who could volunteer and a meaningful opportunity to get involved.

How you can help

You can help Serve the City by volunteering or donating. They also organise numerous events including their famous Second-Hand English Book Sales – the next of which is on Saturday 14 December - details below.