Ivy Grove care home in Chingford is hosting a food festival on Saturday 8 August from noon to 4pm, inviting the local community in to celebrate international cuisine and culture.

The afternoon centres on a garden barbecue serving dishes from Mexico, Spain and Greece — tortillas, paella and souvlaki among them — alongside cocktails and mocktails. Live entertainment will include flamenco and paso doble performances and a singer whose set is inspired by the three countries.

Resident Christine Jones said she was "most looking forward to trying the dishes from all three countries – especially the paella".

The festival is part of Care UK's "A Taste of Home" initiative, which is designed to open up life inside care homes while celebrating diversity through food. Jacob Mante, home manager at Ivy Grove, said the event is a chance to celebrate "residents and team members from a wonderfully diverse range of cultures", promising "a fantastic afternoon of food, culture and connection".

Across Care UK homes, the initiative puts the emphasis on sustainable, community-focused events built around residents' own favourite recipes and locally sourced seasonal ingredients.

More details are available at careuk.com/A-taste-of-home.