A social enterprise helping to tackle the problem of food poverty is aiming to 鈥榮upercharge鈥 its efforts having provided 100,000 meals since its launch three years ago.
Manchester-based Foodinate is an innovative scheme that has partnered with restaurants and event venues to bring hot meals to people in need in deprived local communities.
For every Foodinate-designated meal ordered at a participating restaurant, the business will donate a sum of money to a local charity which will enable it to provide a nourishing meal for a person in need.
Now, to celebrate reaching the milestone of providing a massive 100,000 meals, Foodinate is launching a 鈥楤usiness Champions Club鈥 membership package in the hope of fundraising an additional 拢100,000 to expand resources and 鈥榮upercharge their impact to the next level.鈥
Manchester-born founder of Foodinate Caroline Stevenson said: 鈥淲hen I first started working on Foodinate, I dreamt about what it would feel like to reach milestones like this.
鈥淧roviding 100,000 hot, nourishing meals for some of the hardest to reach individuals, in some of the most deprived communities across the 海角视频.
"I鈥檓 so proud of the team and will be forever grateful to our dedicated partners for believing in this idea and making it happen with us.
鈥淯nfortunately, with more than 13 million people in the 海角视频 living below the poverty line, our work has only just begun, and we have huge plans to take our impact to new heights.鈥
Caroline said the new business membership will open its doors to any business that wants to help in the cause.
She said: 鈥淏usinesses in the community have really taken to Foodinate. It鈥檚 such a simple idea with such a powerful social impact, they鈥檝e seen what we鈥檝e been able to achieve so far and they want to be a part of it moving forward. We want them to be part of it, too.
鈥淚鈥檝e lost count of the number of amazing businesses that have approached us wanting to support our mission but couldn鈥檛 adopt our usual 鈥榚at a meal, give a meal鈥 model.
"The Foodinate Business Champions Club is about opening our doors to any business, in any industry, that wants to make a seriously positive difference in their communities and be a part of something amazing.鈥
It is already working with businesses including The Alchemist and GG Hospitality.
Co-owner of GG Hospitality and former Manchester United footballer, Gary Neville, signed up events and catering venture, GG Events & Catering, to Foodinate in 2018.
The partnership ensures every person attending a private event at any of their venues, including Hotel Football and Manchester Cathedral results in a meal for a person in need in the local community through Foodinate.
Neville said: 鈥淲hen we heard about the Foodinate scheme, we knew it was something we wanted our events and catering company to be involved with.
"Homelessness is a serious problem, so for our clients booking events through us to know they are making a positive difference in the city at the same time as holding their event, it鈥檚 a very special thing.鈥
Caroline also plans to take Foodinate to large-scale venues and events, including stadiums, music festivals and large sporting events.
To do this, the scheme has appointed Dan Schofield, who has previously held non-executive director roles at Manchester City, Manchester United Football Clubs, as well as the London 2012 Olympics and Tour de France.
Schofield, who is currently MD of Pioneer Venue Solutions, said: 鈥淔oodinate is such a simple but powerful message 鈥 for every person attending a 鈥淔oodinated鈥 event, a meal is provided for a person in need in the same community that the event takes place.
鈥淭hat message resonates with both event organisers and event attendees, and now with the launch of the Business Champions Club, Event Suppliers too, so it鈥檚 a win-win.
"I鈥檓 really excited to get Foodinate in to Stadiums and Events and continue the fantastic work that has been done to date.鈥
