The inspiration for the small group of friends that started The Food Chain came from the USA, where charities such as Project Open Hand in San Francisco and Gods Love We Deliver in New York were preparing and delivering meals to people living with and dying from AIDS related illness.
In the 80s and early 90s, the absence of effective anti-retroviral therapies meant that infection with HIV invariably manifested in AIDS and ultimately led to death. So in London, in 1988, the founders of The Food Chain were very much motivated by passion that often arose from a very personal involvement with the original service users.
Fortunately, we presently live in more hopeful times, when medical advances and increasing knowledge of how to fight HIV through other means such as nutrition and general wellbeing mean that those infected with HIV can expect to live longer, more fulfilling lives. Here's how The Food Chain (TFC) got from 1988 to now: remembering that TFC receives no direct Government funding, we think you'll find it's something of a remarkable story…
1988
On Christmas Day, the founder members of TFC deliver their first meals to service users who were relatives and friends. Meals are cooked in the Metropolitan Community Church in Central London and the office is a founder member's (Mike Pennell) bedroom.
1989
Growing demand means the church premises are no longer large enough. Kentish Town kitchen opens for business.
1990
Contributions from AIDS Support Grants of councils such as Hackney and Brent enable TFC to accept more service users. As a poignant reminder of HIV's indifference to the age, race, sexual orientation and gender of the people it infects, sadly TFC is referred its first child service user.
1991
As grants and personal donations start to come in, it quickly becomes obvious that control mechanisms need to be introduced to ensure donations can be shown to be properly and effectively targeted. The first set of referral criteria are drawn up. TFC registers formally as a charity.
To satisfy a growing service user population south of the Thames, in a bold expansion move, a second kitchen is opened at New Cross. Establishing a pattern that has now become the norm, the kitchen attracts its own new set of local volunteers (helped in no small way by exposure in the local press). Highbury kitchen opens for service users in northeast London.
Hackney Council donates much needed office space in Shepherdess Walk (London N1) for TFC's administrative activities.
1992
Our first full-time member of staff joins TFC to assist in administration. By the end of the year, TFC is sending out meals to 200 service users and their immediate family or carer. (140 from Kentish Town and 60 from New Cross.)
1993
Numbers of service users and volunteers continue to grow. In November, TFC reports that it is delivering 6,500 meals a year across 21 London boroughs. Volunteers now number 350 and the first food hygiene course is held for kitchen helpers. London Fields/Globe kitchen opens for service users in east London.
1995
Following a brief time sharing the Lighthouse's catering facilities, Hammersmith kitchen is opened by one of our patrons, Jimmy Somerville, for service users in west London. TFC's registered office moves to its current location in Upper Holloway (between Archway and Tufnell Park). A second full-time staff member is recruited to help in the office.
1997
The emergency food programme for people returning home from hospital treatment or experiencing difficulties with getting benefits commences. Funding for the new service is provided by Fashion Acts.
1998
Some forty celebrity chefs agree to run the London Marathon on behalf of TFC. The publicity and star attraction of our team, combined with the generosity of individual sponsors, nets around £70,000 to spend on new services.
1999
Thanks to the revenue raised by our wonderful culinary marathon runners, a one-year pilot scheme starts to deliver weekly grocery boxes to our most isolated and chronically sick service users.
The first of a number of large grants is given by the Elton John AIDS Foundation to cover the cost of food for the Sunday service. This is an important grant as it gives TFC a much more stable financial base.
2000
The Millennium Volunteer Scheme provides funding for young volunteers (up to age 25 years). This funds our first Volunteer Co-ordinator as well as all the costs associated with recruiting and supporting young volunteers for the next three years. Also this year, our first grant from overseas is received; from Positive Helpings in the USA.
2003
The Big Lottery provides funding for the Volunteer Co-ordinator's role for a period of three years.
2004
Tooting kitchen opens for service users in south London. The Food Chain wins the GSK/Kings Fund award for voluntary organisations making a difference in the field of health.
The Bridge House Trust provides funding for the Service Manager's role for a period of three years. Volunteering England provides funds to pay for volunteers' expenses, such as travel, training, insurance and fuel.
The Mayor of Islington, Councillor Joan Coupland, becomes the first to adopt an HIV charity as her Mayor's Charity for her year in office. During the year, enough money is raised to fund all the food costs for her home kitchen in Highbury for a whole year.
2005
TFC wins the Queen's Award for Volunteer Organisation of the Year. Funding is sourced from the Big Lottery for a Chief Executive to develop TFC over the next few years. TFC wins The Guardian Charity of the Year Award.
