A document describing the role and responsibilities of a trustee can be downloaded by clicking here
We are particularly looking for people with experience in corporate/charity governance, financial management and catering/nutrition. Please email us at trustees@foodchain.org.uk to find out more.
]]>The reason for this is because we are updating our IT systems and will be up and running with a new rota on Monday.
A step-by-step user guide will be emailed to all our volunteers, who will also receive new login details, on Monday.
We apologise for this incovenience.
]]>Odila has been nominated by one of our volunteers for the excellent work she does every week on keeping the Bermondsey kitchen rota full. And as the member of staff who relies on the work that she does, I am more happy to add my support to what that volunteer's recommendation.
Odila has been volunteering as our Bermondsey kitchen rota coordinator since August 2009. When not volunteering with The Food Chain she is busy looking for ways to improve her skills to get better opportunities in her career.
Odila gets "a great sense of achievement when I can see the rota filled up and am glad that we can count on so many great people, who I want to thank you all for being so patient with me. Thank you all of you who leave your houses very early on Sundays for a good cause, thank you for your support."
And a big thank you to Odila for all her hard work.
]]>The proceeds from the performance will be kindly donated to support us.
Joyce has been a volunteer with The Food Chain for 17 years, and currently volunteers as a driver and shopper at our Tooting kitchen. This is the third benefit in the last four years that Joyce has held to benefit The Food Chain.
]]>By asking diners to add a £1 donation to their bill your local restaurant could help us to raise hundreds of pounds to feed people living with HIV who are struggling to access the food they need to get and stay well.
We hope to raise £10,000 through Dine and Give by World Aids Day. If you are a restaurant owner who would like to take part please email Tina to find out more.
The scheme is explained in more detail on this flyer please free to take a copy with you next time you are at your favourite eatery and ask them if they would be interested in taking part. If you would like a printed version of the leaflet please contact Tina.
]]>Multi award-winning writer and Food Chain patron Jonathan Harvey will host a gala reception after the performance of his new play Canary at Hampstead Theatre on Thursday 3 June.
Guests will have the opportunity to meet Jonathan and the cast and will enjoy a drinks reception in the private lower foyer of the Theatre. All profits from the event will support The Food Chain.
Gala tickets are £40 and are available from the box office at Hampstead Theatre 020 7722 9301.
Spread the word by dowloading the flyer and inviting your friends.
]]>With eleven months to get training, now is the ideal time to sign up to next year's Brighton Marathon.
On 10th April 2011 hundreds of runners will take to Brighton's streets. Young and old, experienced runners and first timers will join together to experience the highs and lows of running 26 miles and 385 yards and the joy of crossing the finishing line.
If you want to join The Food Chain team and run for people living in London who canot afford to miss a meal email Tina.Sloane@foodchain.org.uk for an entry form.
A massive thanks to our three runners who took part this year and raised well in excess of £2,000, AND lived to tell the tale....
"I teamed up with another runner and we did most of the marathon together...or at least until mile 21 when my body felt exhausted. Luckily enough after a couple of miles of hopping and massaging, I ran the last 2 miles. The cheering up of the crowd was great and it gave you the much needed boost for the final sprint. I loved it!!! Today sadly I am walking like a 70 years old man, in particular while descending steps......but with a big smile on my sunburned face." Maurizio Grasselli on the Brighton Marathon 2010
"I managed to finish my run in 4hrs 36mins so was REALLY happy with my time. I thought the run was great fun, it was lovely to see so many supporters out, I managed to hi-five lots of children and eat lots of the freebie jelly babies on route too. I found miles 18-22 the hardest and thought my knees were going to give up on me (didn't walk at all during the run just incase they wouldn't start again!) but i somehow managed to keep going and the final 4 miles I managed to get my energy back and started to speed up again.
I am now starting to think about what is next!" Janette Donovan on her first ever marathon at Brighton
The Food Chain have five places in the run. To register for a place we ask for a deposit of £150, which is refundable if you raise over £1,000. Call Tina to sign up now 020 7354 0333
We are delighted that a very generous donor has agreed to match any online sponsorship raised by this year's team. If you've ever been tempted to get involved, this is the year to join us!
The 21st Walk for Life is taking place on Sunday 6 June. To join our team simply click here.
Lets make sure this year's Walk for Life is a great one.
]]>Due to an oversight during the packing of the foil boxes Kentish Town was left without any large foils for Sunday's service. This created a logistical nightmare for everyone on rota and volunteers were left with no option but to send out the meals in a selection of medium and small foils. Meaning that each meal consisted of up to four foils, creating confusion for everyone.
Kitchen volunteers had to package the food into a significantly larger number of containers than usual. The supervisors had many more foils and lids to count and label and found it impossible to fit them all into the hot boxes. And the deliverers had lots more foils to deliver, causing confusion on the doorstep. This ultimately meant a stressful day for everyone concerned.
Despite the difficulties the Kentish Town volunteers all mucked in together and got the food out as required. A true team effort. So a big thank you everyone who was on rota that day: Lead cooks Jenny Greenghalgh and Elizabeth Nkhoma; supervisors Orsi Faludi and Rosa Parker; kitchen assistants Catherine Blakemore, Linda Cooke, Harriet Ferner, Peter Haman, Brenda Han, Oscar Ignatius, Iris Petsas, Nuno Pires, Peter Robinson and James Turnbull; drivers Gerard Beakey, Lobo Chan, Denysse Edwardes, Judith Goodman, Michael Lee and Stephen Morley; and navigators Beth Anderson, Nayomi Kasthuriarachchi, Iain McNaughton, John Pengilley, Dawn Phelps and Susan Tuttle.
Thank you to you all.
]]>Disturbingly an increasing number of service users were living with a food budget of less then £20 (25.3%, up from 22% in 2007), and 45% had very limited social contact throughout the week. On a more positive note, 49% of service users cooked food for themselves on at least one occasion during the week.
]]>Emily has been volunteering with The Food Chain since October 2006. She has been a lead cook at Highbury for the past 15 months. When not volunteering with us Emily loves watching her husband studiously make marmalade; taking her toddler to the British Museum to hear him exclaim, "Wow, that's AMAZING" in every room; Mad Men; black bears; toasted hot cross buns and peanut butter (but not together).
Her message for fellow volunteers is "thank you for making the coffee first thing in the morning. Thank you for turning up, having a go, and coping with any crazy stuff that gets thrown at you during the morning. And thanks for coming back, week after week!"
Thanks very much to Emily for doing such a good job.
]]>Bobby was leading the kitchen team at Bermondsey on Sunday 27th. He arrived at the kitchen to discover that the shoppers had been unable to purchase most of the meat, and some of the other ingredients, that were needed for the menu. Rather than panic, Bobby, with the assistance of kitchen assistant Jeremy Heard, went out shopping for the remaining ingredients. A small tweak to the menu, to make it more compatible with the food that they were able to purchase, meant the food still went out before noon. A remarkable feat given the significant delay that having to go shopping first thing in the morning caused to the service.
Bobby has been a volunteer with The Food Chain since December 2007, helping out as both a kitchen assistant and kitchen lead at our Bermondsey kitchens.
Judith has helped out with various activities over Christmas. Firstly, she helped our lead cook with the shopping on Christmas Eve, before mucking in with some food preparation that evening. She then helped to transport volunteers to the kitchen on Christmas Day, followed by some more food preparation. More shopping was to follow on Boxing Day, when many of the large supermarkets were closed and a lot of time was required to visit a lot of smaller shops. A sterling Christmas effort was topped off with another stint of kitchen help on 27th.
Judith has been a volunteer with The Food Chain since December 2001. Not only has Judith been our longest serving rota coordinator (as many of you will know), but she is also regularly seen on the delivery rota at Kentish Town.
A big thanks to both of you.
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