The Food Chain's guest editorial in the London & UK Date Book

The London & UK DatebooK contains a comprehensive listing of the major charitable events throughout the UK. It is packed with articles, useful information, pictures from charity events and information about venues for all kinds of functions. For more information visit: http://www.thedatebook.co.uk/

This year, the Food Chain have been selected to provide the "guest editorial" for the book, due for release on 1st January 2007, here's a sneak preview:

"Ask most people what they are doing at 7am on a Sunday morning and they will say ‘sleeping’. However for nearly 1,000 amazing volunteers, one Sunday a month finds them preparing themselves to cook or deliver a wide variety of very special meals to those who are chronically unwell due to HIV related illness (AIDS).

In 1987 a group of friends reacted to newspaper articles about the ‘Plague’ that was hitting the UK and London in particular, in a very practical way. Taking the lead from organisations in the United States that were already responding to the newly recognised AIDS virus and the unprecedented prejudice, discrimination and near hysteria that went with it, they decided to cook and deliver a Christmas dinner to 24 individuals who were all very sick and alone. 18 years later, The Food Chain remains committed to ensuring that no one living with the HIV virus has their ability to get well and stay well affected by lack of access to appropriate food and 18 years on from that first delivery the organisation has never missed a Sunday of cooking and delivering meals.

Benjamin's wife died from HIV related illness four years ago. He is quite unwell with HIV himself, but fortunately his two sons, Adam aged 7 and Matthias aged 5, are currently well. Benjamin manages to shop and prepare meals with the help of some church members. Benjamin's faith is very important to him. Meals are delivered by The Food Chain on Sunday lunchtime, allowing Benjamin to be taken to church without worrying about preparing meals for the family. Adam and Matthias are always very excited about the meal deliveries - treats such as little bars of chocolate are usually hidden at the bottom of the bag. Last Christmas a special hamper was delivered filled with seasonal foods, but also some toys and games which had been donated by volunteers.

There have been huge changes; in 2006 The Food Chain has delivered over 50,000 meals and over 4,000 grocery parcels. Those served include 17% who are children under 18, 45% women and 3% who are over 70 years old. The good news is that 18 years ago every one fed by The Food Chain was dying; now people can live relatively healthy lives if they can manage anti-retroviral drugs and if they get the support needed to gain enough strength following initial periods of repeated ill health. The bad news is that prejudice and discrimination and fear of these remain a huge factor in people not getting tested for the virus and not getting help soon enough. Anti-retroviral drugs can be very difficult to take and may be combined with complicated diet requirements. AIDS induced diabetes and digestive problems are common and being asked to manage and understand a special diet whilst coming to terms with an HIV diagnosis, having repeated bouts of illness and perhaps trying to care for your family can be too much for many people.

The Food Chain takes referrals from hospital and community based dietitians, social workers, hospital consultants and community G.P’s and specialist nurses. The criteria is strict as for any finite resource but the organisation prides itself on always trying to take people on service as soon as a referral is approved, as very often the individual is in no position to join a waiting list. Recipients need for service is reviewed regularly under a stringent process to ensure that the service is what they need and is benefiting them.

Nalu is extremely isolated. She has no family as they were all murdered in Uganda. She was brutally raped in the same attack but managed to escape to the UK. She is HIV positive as a result of the rape. In London she only knows two other people. She has four years leave to remain but knows that one day she may be sent back to Uganda. This causes her a great deal of stress and anxiety. She has a very poor appetite and no energy to cook for herself. She has lost 15kgs and is now only 40 kgs. As a result she is very malnourished. Sunday meals delivered by The Food Chain are helping her to regain interest in food as she is currently eating practically nothing and as importantly a friendly face at the door once a week makes her feel cared about.

With only five paid members of staff, The Food Chain’s volunteers enable this amazing service to take place every week of the year. Six kitchens around London are borrowed at weekends from organisations who are not using them or who are willing to move over and make space. A volunteer lead cook, plans and shops for the weeks meals and delivers the food to the kitchens for their shift. They will have to cater for some of up to 30 different special diets relating to individual need, likes and dislikes as every delivery is personally tailored as well as being designed to look and taste gorgeous. Full training is given with regular courses in food hygiene, African cooking, cooking for HIV+ children, and numerous others.

By 8am team of willing helpers is at work and at 11 the second shift of volunteers arrive to be ready to deliver the meals. At 12 everything is packed in special boxes that maintain optimum temperatures and the deliverers are ready to go.

For many recipients a Food Chain volunteer may be the only person they see each week and that few minutes on the door step is extremely important. By 3 all volunteers are back at their home kitchen ready to finish their weekend in the sure and certain knowledge that by their generous actions they have made a very practical difference to the lives of some of the most marginalised people in our community.

The Food Chain is always looking for volunteers to help. Currently practical services are only available in Greater London but this is set to expand. Receiving no government funding the organisation also relies on volunteer fundraisers, on external events and on individual generous donors. "