Struggles 2 Smiles

05/05/2026

🔥 Building the future, one seed at a time! 🚀
A massive well done to our incredible young veteran for their hard work and vision on our latest project. They’ve been an integral part of designing and developing our new urban farming system, bringing that veteran discipline and ingenuity to the heart of the project! 🏙️🌱
We aren't quite at the finish line yet, but we couldn't wait to share the progress. It’s amazing to see how this system is coming together to create sustainable, fresh food solutions for our community.
Take a look at this sneak preview of the work done so far! 📸👇
We are so proud to have you on the team. Your transition from service to sustainability is inspiring to us all. Keep up the brilliant work!

05/05/2026

🔥 Huge shoutout to our two newest stars in the kitchen! 🔥
We are so incredibly proud of our two young chefs who have been absolutely smashing it lately. Not only are they bringing the heat and serving up incredible Caribbean flavors, but they’ve also officially leveled up behind the scenes! 🥘🏝️
A massive well done to both of you for passing your Level 2 Food Hygiene and Allergy Awareness certifications. It’s one thing to have the talent, but seeing you put in the work to master the professional side of the craft shows exactly why you’re a vital part of this team.
We are so excited to watch your progress and see what you cook up throughout the rest of the season. Keep grinding, keep seasoning, and keep shining! 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳✨

17/04/2026

🌱 Big Shoutout to Ryan: Our Urban Farmer in the Making! 🛠️

It’s been an incredible 4 months, and we couldn’t let the week pass without giving a massive thank you to our young veteran, Ryan.

Since swapping the city for the "sticks," Ryan has been absolutely smashing his volunteering work and becoming a vital part of the team.
Ryan hasn't just been lending a hand; he’s been stuck in the thick of it! Over the last few months, he’s mastered:

• Tree Grafting & Orchards: From delicate grafting work to planting out our future fruit orchards. 🌳

• The "Fish Tank" Chaos: Helping us cut down tanks and the real challenge actually trying to catch the fish for our urban farming system! 🎣

• The Great Pipe Debates: Keeping things lively by arguing with Jay over every single pipe size and connector needed for the build. (We're still not sure who won, but the system works!)
Bridging the Gap: City to Country 🚜

A huge thank you also goes out to all our young people from the city who have joined us. It’s been inspiring to see you embrace the mud and the hard graft to learn about tree grafting, orchard creation, and the technical world of building an aquaponics ecosystem.
We’ve had a fantastic few months making memories, and we’re just getting started! 💥

📸 Keep your eyes peeled: We’ll be posting pictures over the next couple of weeks, along with some amazing videos of the system in full swing! 🎣🌱🍅🍓

Cheers for everything, Ryan here’s to many more months of building, planting, growing and (probably) more arguing over pipe sizes and fishes! ! 🙌✨

14/04/2026

We’re back! 🚚💨 You might have noticed we’ve been a bit quiet on socials lately - unfortunately, we lost access to the Jai Stephens profile and our 20k+ followers. It’s a setback, but it doesn't change the mission! 👊
We’ve had an incredible Easter hitting the road with the food truck. A massive shoutout to S2S new young lad who joined the crew he absolutely smashed his first few events with us! 🌟 Supporting our young people and working in the community remains our #1 priority.
A huge thank you to Ceri from Hurt so good for inviting us at their summer event in Barry. We can’t wait to be back in Barry throughout the summer months! ☀️
Thank you to all our event partners - we’re looking forward to a massive season ahead.
See you all soon!! 🔥

14/04/2026

Our website is getting updated and all updates will be posted on our website and facebook every month, with step by step videos on creating your own urban farming system and recipes from the farm. Our annual report will also be available to everyone to read within the next few weeks.
Thank you for your continued support.
Struggles 2 Smiles ❤️💙💚💜

DEDICATED TO MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE Welcome to Struggles 2 Smiles committed to addressing food insecurity, breaking down cultural barriers, while offering young people from disadvantaged/multicultural backgrounds the opportunity to training and job opportunities within...

14/04/2026

Look at that growth! 🌱🍎
The native fruit trees we grafted earlier this year are thriving and almost ready to find their forever homes in the ground. It’s amazing to see the progress from those early grafts to the healthy trees you see now.
A massive thank you to the Abergavenny Veterans and the team from Native Wales. You didn't just help us plant trees; you shared invaluable skills with our young city people, teaching them the art and grit behind growing our own food. 🤝✨
Want an orchard of your own? 🌳
We want to see more of these native beauties across our area especially in the City!! If you’re a community group interested in setting up your own fruit orchard, we’d love to help make it happen.
📩 Drop us a message and let’s grow together!
[email protected]

14/04/2026

What an unbelievable start to 2026! 🚜✨ We’ve spent the last few months getting our hands dirty on the farm, planting native fruit trees and designing a unique legacy orchard that will feed this community for generations.
The heavy lifting was no joke, but this team made it look easy:
• Carl (Native Wales): Massive thanks for getting us and the charity involved. This is just the start of our collaborations! 🤝
• Ryan: Our young veteran who brought incredible heart and hustle to the field. 🎖️
• Dan: Absolute legend of a young lad who smashed the work from start to finish! 🔨
But wait, there’s more… 🚀
Our Urban Farming System is officially a reality “Pictures soon be posted” We’ve finished the build and the momentum is unreal now time to grow! Teaching the next generation where their food comes from is a total game-changer. By later this year, these systems will be live in our communities. 🥦🏙️
The Mission: Farm to Plate. Fresh, local food for our neighbors and vital support for our local food banks and pantries.
We’re only 4 months into the year and we’re just getting started. If this is the pace for our start of the year then December is going to be historic. Roll on the rest of the year! 🤘

05/02/2026

🌳 An Incredible Day of Conservation & Community 🌱

Yesterday was something special. We spent the day grafting beautiful and rare Welsh trees, working side-by-side with veterans who are experts horticulturalists and young people from the city. It was amazing to see out the rootstock and carefully graft these future giants – a real lesson in patience and hope! We cant wait to watch them grow for generations to come. 🌳💚 S2S and our partners will have some amazing workshops soon available for the community.

And the momentum doesn't stop there! Our Struggles 2 Smiles urban farming project is hitting a huge milestone: we start the physical build this Monday! 🛠️ Our cuttings are already in their early stages, ready for the system we're creating - while our lovely fishes are now on order! Whoop Whoop! 🦈🥕🍅

We’re thrilled to be working with Cullen from The Central Club where we will be documenting the entire journey – from the first bolt to the final planting. We'll be building a step-by-step guide available on our website and YouTube channel, sharing all the learnings as we go.

Want to be part of these transformative projects? We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have skills to share, muscles to lend, or just a passion for growing – volunteers are always welcome. Get in touch to help us grow more than just plants. You will also be able to take some of the fresh produce with our recipe cards to cook and enjoy in the comfort of your own home!

Well done to Jai and his team - what a start to 2026! 💚

22/01/2026

PLEASE SHARE 🙏🏻

Struggles 2 Smiles Neighbourhood Grow Project, is on a mission to grow more than just plants but growing connections, resilience, and fresh food for our community.

As we prepare to launch our urban farming project, we’ll soon have a sustainable supply of fresh, nutrient-rich produce (think leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, and more!) ready to share. We believe fresh food should be accessible to everyone, and we want to partner with small local food banks, pantries, and community food projects to make that happen.

Are you a food bank or pantry operating in the Vale of Glamorgan?
We’d love to collaborate with you! During our pilot phase, we can:
✅ Supply you with regular, fresh, locally grown produce.
✅ Work with you to tailor deliveries to your needs and capacity.
✅ Help enhance the nutritional quality of the food support you provide.

By partnering together, we can:
✨ Reduce food miles and carbon footprint.
✨ Offer healthier options to those experiencing food poverty.
✨ Build a stronger, more resilient local food network.

If you’re interested or know an organisation that might be then please comment below, send us a direct message, or email us at [email protected]. Let’s start a conversation about how we can grow better food futures, together.

Thank you for the incredible work you already do in our community. Let’s join hands and harvests!

Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund/ Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol & Egin for funding this amazing project.

14/01/2026

Giving little wardrobes a second chance! 👶✨

Our baby bank is running low and we’re calling on our wonderful community to help us restock. We provide essential items to local families in need, and your pre-loved donations make a huge difference.

If you’re having a clear-out and have any of the following items in good, clean condition, we’d be so grateful:

👕 Clothing & Sleepwear

· Newborn to 24 months clothing (especially sizes 0-3 & 3-6 months)
· Sleepsuits & bodysuits
· Pajamas
· Socks & mittens

🛏️ Bedding & Safety

· Cellular blankets
· Baby sleeping bags
· Moses basket/bassinet sheets (standard sizes)

🍼 Feeding & Bathing

· Bottles & teats (new/unused or sterilized sets please)
· Bibs & burp cloths
· Baby towels & washcloths

🚼 Changing Essentials

· Unopened packs of nappies (any size)
· Baby wipes (unopened)
· Nappy cream (unopened)

🚗 Gear & Toys

· Baby carriers & slings
· Small, easy-to-clean soft toys
· Board books

Every item helps wrap a little one in comfort and support a family in our community. Please share this post to spread the word!

Thank you for your kindness and support. ❤️

10/01/2026

Exciting News from Struggles 2 Smiles! 🌱🍲

We're delighted to announce that our popular Fresh Food & Baby Hampers will be back available for delivery from January 16th! You can place your orders through our website or inbox. A wonderful, nutritious option for families who struggle to make ends meet, whether you claim UC or experiencing Working Poverty - we got you covered!! 💜

More Updates for the New Year:

🚚 Our famous Street Food Truck is Hitting the Road from April. We'll be back serving up your favourite street food dishes from April for the new season. With all my faised through this interval going back into our hot food bank for homeless individuals every week. We cant wait to see you!

👩🌾 Looking for Opportunities? We Have Two!

1. Seasonal Outdoor Catering opportunities: Are you a young individuals interested in learning the ropes of outdoor catering? Our seasonal courses will be running again soon. Get in touch to register your interest and learn new skills!

2. Urban Farming Project (Starting February): This is a special one! We are looking for a young person passionate about sustainability and our urban ecosystem to join an exciting new Urban Farming Team. This hands-on role will include training in urban farming, growing vegetables, learning about biology in PH and aquaculture and learning about how we can nurture nature in city spaces. A fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in green projects and food growing!

If you, or a young person you know, are interested in either opportunity, please send us a message to find out more!

[email protected]