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As Eating Together draws to a close, we are also saying goodbye to some staff roles. Paul Tomlinson (Grants and Fundraising Manager), Clare Quinn (Volunteer & Training Manager) and her maternity cover Henn Mossery-Golan, Helen Cleverley (Community Fundraising Coordinator), Vanda Princz (Financial Administrator) and Peter Blowers (Kitchen Services Manager) will all be finishing by the end of July 2026.
Collectively, they have been with The Food Chain for 53 years. Their incredible dedication, passion, enthusiasm and hard work has been immeasurable, and it's hard to put in to words just how much their loss will be felt. But The Food Chain is no stranger to change, and it's a testament to all of them that their support and compassion through these last couple of months has been unwavering. They are Food Chain, through and through.
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"It has been a real pleasure working for TFC and without doubt what has made it so special for me are the people - Trustees, Volunteers, Service Users and Staff. In addition, we have had some wonderful funders who have kindly and generously supported the work. I am so glad that the Charity will continue so that it can go on impacting people for good. I wish everyone connected with TFC all the very best for the future." Paul
"I've worked at The Food Chain for 6 and a half years. For me, TFC is the best that a service based charity can be. It enacts the belief that everyone deserves to have their basic needs like food met, but also to have community, warmth and respect. Thanks to all the volunteers who have worked so hard and brought such joy. Thanks for all the support and laughs you have given me in my role. We are in really hard times... so many people are suffering the outcomes of political choices they had no say in. But Eating Together helped build a lot of peoples confidence, and ability to live and fight another day, and that's no small thing. I've learnt so much from my extraordinary colleagues, and from Volunteers and especially from Service Users. I don't know what I will do next (after maternity leave!) but I will gratefully take all I've learnt with me and into the next thing. Lots of love, Clare x"
"Thank you to the team and the wonderful volunteers who have welcomed me in to The Food Chain family over the last few month. I've learned so much from our volunteers and Service Users - lessons in resiliance, kindness, and that food can still taste good without salt. I look forward to seeing what's next in Food Chain's journey and getting involved where I can." Henn
"The 10 years I've spent with the Food Chain as volunteer & staff have been the most heartwarming. The kindness, the laughter & all the cups of yorkshire tea, have made me so grateful that I was able to be part of this wonderful family." Helen
"Well, it's an end of an era for me, as I have been with Food Chain for 15 years as a staff member - and one year before that as a volunteer cook on our Sunday service. I must say it's been the best job I have had in my career, and I've loved meeting an array of colleagues, trustees, volunteers - and, why we do this of course, our lovely Service Users. Let’s hope it’s a "see you later" and not a goodbye, and I can say those words again to our great volunteers: we couldn’t do it without you." Peter
"Eighteen years ago at London Pride parade, I was introduced to Food Chain and I was interested in helping. When I started volunteering on weekends, we were cooking in the kitchens and the meals would be delivered to Service Users. It was great to help all the wonderful people at the charity, providing any support I could give. Things changed when we got our own kitchen, that is when we started Eating Together, it made a great difference to the Service Users, the staff and volunteers as we were able to learn about each other and connect over food. It has been a privilege to be a volunteer and staff member. I am so grateful for being part of such a fantastic team and charity like Food Chain and working with amazing people. A piece of my heart will be left here, until we return. With a warm heart, and many thanks to all." Vanda
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We are heartbroken to see them go. Very happily, Peter will be staying closeby as he will continue to deliver catering services at Positive East for their events. I'm sure we'll still see Vanda and Helen in their hairnets every once and a while, and then there's the parties, the bingos, the parades... and no matter what, as we always say, once you're part of The Food Chain family you never really leave. As I said in my rather tearful speech on Wednesday, "family doesn't stop being family".
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