An exciting, new, collaborative portrait exhibition ‘I am’ is opening in the amazing Waste2Taste Café this September, unveiled by Oxford-based photographer Philippa James to celebrate the social enterprise hub’s vibrant community.
Featuring bold, colourful portraits created collaboratively by Philippa and members of the café community, volunteers, staff, café regulars and newcomers all stepped behind the camera for the first time to direct, pose and photograph one another.
The result is a joyful celebration of people seeing, and being seen by, one another. “It really is quite powerful, Waste2Taste co-founder and director Sandra Ruge, says. “Especially when you see the residents smiling and laughing for the first time. So it’s more than just what Waste2Taste means to them, it’s about bringing everyone together.
Waste2Taste, which uses surplus food in their cafe, and brings the community together EXCLUSIVE: “We are here for everyone” Check out top community cafe Waste2Taste’s new premises in Cowley!, winning numerous awards along the way including BEST FOOD HERO in the OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2025, is delighted to be hosting the inspiring new exhibition.
‘This project is about recognition, about belonging, and about saying, we are here’
Themed ‘I am’, the idea for the exhibition came from the community itself. Philippa James, who exhibited her 100 Women Of Oxford exhibition at Waste2Taste explains: “It was such a simple, powerful phrase encompassing playfulness, pride, vulnerability and strength and once the idea was agreed, my role was to help bring it all together.
While Philippa brought her photographic expertise, much of the magic came from handing over the shutter and inviting people to see each other through the lens. Each portrait is accompanied by a handwritten “I am…” statement, offering a glimpse into the spirit and voice of each individual.
‘We are part of the community ourselves, and we wanted to show everyone how much we love and appreciate them’
“The resulting portraits are bright and colourful, and the accompanying text is so varied – some are funny, others philosophical, and a few really emotional ones too. This project is about recognition, about belonging, and about saying, we are here.”
So why was Philippa so eager to take part? “As a photographer, I’m always looking for ways to collaborate, literally and metaphorically. This project wasn’t about capturing people, but about co-creating something meaningful with them.
‘This cafe is a lifeline. Yes, the food is good, but it’s more than that. People are welcome and accepted here no matter what’
“I offered my skills, but the stories, words and energy all came from within the café walls. My role was to create a safe, joyful space where people could see themselves, and each other, more clearly. We wanted to celebrate the people who make up Waste2Taste.”
Sandra Ruge adds: “We are part of the community ourselves, and we wanted to show everyone how much we love and appreciate them. This exhibition was made by and for the community, to give them ownership of this space. The cafe isn’t just about the food we serve, for many, it’s their lifeline.”
Take Abinah, café regular and resident at Shotover View, where the Waste2Taste Cafe is housed. “People come through our doors for all sorts of reasons; some for lunch, others to learn to cook, to volunteer, to keep warm, to feel part of something. This exhibition says, we see you. You belong here,” adds
‘There’s no ‘us and them’ here, everyone is part of the same table. So we wanted to mark the incredible people who make this space what it is’
Sandra adds. “There’s no ‘us and them’ here, everyone is part of the same table. So we wanted to mark the incredible people who make this space what it is.”
She continues: “I saw shy people grow in confidence. One of our customers I’d never even seen smile, was laughing and joking after he had his portrait taken, I was streaming with happy tears. That’s the magic of a project like this.”
For many, the café is a sanctuary: “They do food, but that’s just the excuse,” says Maria, a café regular. “Really, it’s where you can show up exactly as you are, pyjama-brained, laugh-snorting, or in need of a good cry. Some days it feels like a library, some days a comedy club, and occasionally it’s like group therapy with cake.”
‘Some days WASTE2TASTE feels like a library, some days a comedy club, and occasionally it’s like group therapy with cake’
Stephen, who also participated in the project, wrote, “I am trying…trying to be a better person, trying to help out when I can. I’m not a fan of having my picture taken, but I hope this project shows who we really are, and maybe encourages others to join us.”
Hillary, a full-time carer, added: “There’s no community centre in this area of Oxford. This café is a lifeline. Yes, the food is good, but it’s more than that. People are welcome and accepted here no matter what.”
The ‘I am’ exhibition opens with a private view on September 4 and everyone is welcome. Waste2Taste is open from Tuesday-Thursday from 9am-3pm. http://www.waste2taste.co.uk
For more info on Philippa James go to http://philippajames/net
