Food that makes a difference!
We all know how much food is wasted in the food retail industry, and we also know how many people can't afford to put a meal on the table. Kelvin is taking us one step closer to solving these problems by empowering local communities to set up groups of volunteers. FoodCycle combines surplus food and a free kitchen space to create nutritious meals and positive social change.
How I can help Esc members
If you want to do anything with surplus food, community engagement, volunteers, or environment stuff related to food, I'm your man.
Currently...
I am the founder and CEO of http://www.foodcycle.org.uk" rel="nofollow">FoodCycle
Before I escaped...
After I graduated from university, I was interning at a couple of think tanks and charities, but the one that changed my life was interning for an organisation called http://www.mybnk.org" rel="nofollow">MyBnk. They teach young people about their finances in a fun way.
My moment of truth...
There are ideas. There are dreams. There are aspirations.
The first 6 months was a lot of trying to make things work, and make others believe that FoodCycle was possible. The first meal we served up was a pile of stodge. That was definitely a moment when I said to myself, "oh crap, this is going to suck".
But we stuck to our guns, got better over the weeks, slowly... and when it finally happened was when http://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation gave us £75,500 over two years to make our dream happen. That was the another "oh crap" moment; the realisation that this is going to happen and I'm heading it!!
It's been a prolonged moment of truth ever since.
Planning for it...
There wasn't really a plan. You just step into the void and hope for the best.
Luckily for me, there were great friends, family and supporters there that believed in what we wanted to do and got me through to where we are now. I continue to find strength from those people to drive the organisaiton forward.
The worst and best bits...
Best: Waking up with a clear purpose of what I need to do... usually. Sometimes, on a dark, rainy January day, I just want to stay in bed like everyone else.
Worst: My best meal that I eat is the meal that I eat at one of our projects when I'm volunteering.
Best advice...
Best advice that I have received? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Best advice I can give to another person? You have got to believe in what you do in life with your heart and soul, then you'll find happiness, fulfillment and meaning.
Useful resources and information...
I get my inspiration from books. Some books that we have really incorporated into how we run things at FoodCycle are:
- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncharitable-Restraints-Nonprofits-Contemporary-Perspectives/dp/1584659556/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302262024&sr=1-2" rel="nofollow">Uncharitable
- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Social-Innovation-Inc-Strategies-Business/dp/0470614501/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302262125&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">Social Innovation Inc
- http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Day-All-Children-Unlikely/dp/1586481797/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302262201&sr=1-1%20" rel="nofollow">One Day, All Children