September 2022 Newsletter
Hello , Welcome to your monthly update from The Food Chain
Newsletter Content:
  • CEO Blog: Party Time!
  • Feature: Fighting HIV Stigma and Proud: March, Vigil and Rally
  • Fundraising round-up
  • Support us while you shop
CEO Blog: Party time!

The season is turning, daylight hours are getting shorter and it is time to hold our annual Volunteer celebration party! This year we are so pleased to hold it in person at Lumen where our office is now based. We hope you will love the space and have a great time at the gathering. There isn’t a day goes by when we don’t have reason to celebrate the contribution of our amazing Food Chain volunteers so it is always a real pleasure to be able to bring people together to say thank you in true Food Chain style, with food, fun and entertainment.

As our service delivery has come back into action after the last couple of years when so many aspects of all our lives were disrupted, it has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences for all the staff team to re-connect with old friends and greet new ones, whether in the kitchen, the office or out and about in the community.

This year, Clare has run two induction training courses for new cohorts of volunteers. One of these has been for a group of former services users who now want to become part of The Food Chain community and return as volunteers. Making that transition from being on service with us to contributing to our service delivery means a great deal to both the individuals and our organisation. It enriches our work and continually renews our learning and understanding of how to best meet the needs of our service users.

Our community of volunteers come from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences which is of great value to our service. For people who are newly referred to us at a time of need all volunteers’ contributions are a great gift that is deeply appreciated. For those who may be feeling especially vulnerable it is deeply comforting that they may meet people who have come through a similar experience to their own, and see that there is the possibility of a change in their circumstances and a brighter future.

The volunteering tradition at The Food Chain is at the very core of all we do. It is where it all began and it shapes everything we do. We are proud of the tradition and of the thousands of people who have made our work possible over the years. We can’t say this often enough. Thank you for your contributions and all you bring to your volunteering role. As we often say, we literally couldn’t do it without you.
Enjoy the party!


Feature: Fighting HIV Stigma and Proud: March, Vigil and Rally
On 1 October The Food Chain will be proudly joining the Fighting HIV Stigma and Proud march, vigil, and rally in central London.

Over 20 HIV organisations are joining together to proudly demonstrate our commitment to fighting HIV stigma. We’ll be gathering from 12pm on Saturday 1 October on London's Belvedere Road, opposite St Thomas’ Hospital/behind County Hall. We will then be marching to Trafalgar Square for the vigil and rally.
Last year's first ever march against HIV stigma #RespectmyHIV was such a success that it inspired the sector to organise another for this year. We are looking forward to marching together, hearing some exciting speakers and of course seeing old friends and making some new ones.
You can sign up to receive email updates via the link here, or just show up on the day - look out for our green Food Chain T shirts and come say hi!

We hope to see you there
Fundraising round-up
Clerkenwell Festival Bake Sale

August Bank Holiday saw The Food Chain pay their annual visit to the Clerkenwell Festival. The first one since the pandemic saw a big crowd enjoying the live music and 'retro' stalls in the sunshine. We sold out of our scrummy cakes and savouries! And made nearly £350 in sales on the day. Thank you to our lovely volunteers Jez and Esi for giving up their time to help, and to all the volunteer bakers who contributed their tasty treats!

You can still sign up to Red Run London 2022!

The World AIDS Day Red Run returns to Victoria Park, east London for its 12th year on 26th November 2022. The Red Run is a 10K or 5K charity fun run or walk, supporting 29 HIV charities from across the country to strengthen the UK's response to HIV.

This is an opportunity to celebrate progress, honour those lives lost and take action.

Sign up to run/walk on behalf of The Food Chain and make a difference:
#redrunuk #worldaidsday #morethanarun
Coming up....
Fundraising Dinner @ The Food Chain with Maison Francois
29th of September
Tickets still available!

Maison François are coming to The Food Chain!

We are delighted to announce that Ed Wyand (Director of Operations) and Matthew Ryle (Head Chef and Masterchef The Professionals finalist), will be bringing Maison François restaurant to our kitchen for our next fundraising dinner at our Eating Together Café on Thursday 29th of September.

Maison François is the critically acclaimed brasserie and wine bar in St James, Mayfair. Opened in September 2020, it has become the beating heart of the area and has been met with great acclaim from critics and customers alike. "It could spark JOY in the saddest heart!"  – Grace Dent

*Sample Menu – (Subject to Change):

Comté gougères (v)
-
Ox tongue brochette au poivre, pickles
Pâté en croûte maison, celeriac remoulade
-
Poulet rôti entier
Salade verte maison
Légumes de saison
Pomme purée
-
Paris-Brest aux noisettes

Vegetarian alternative

Comté gougères (v)
-
Carottes râpées, herbes fraîches, celeriac remoulade
-
Ravioles du Dauphiné, Comté, poivre noir
Salade verte maison
Légumes de saison
Pomme purée
-
Paris-Brest aux noisettes
 
*Please note – some dishes will be served as sharing platters. Ticket price includes a champagne and Kir Royale welcome drink.

Time – From 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm service
Ticket Price - £80.00 per person (maximum 6 tickets per booking)

Please email jason.clapperton@foodchain.org.uk for further information and to reserve your place.
Support us while you shop!
Give as you Live Online is a free and easy way to raise money for your favourite charity, just by shopping online. Simply sign up for free at Give as you Live and choose The Food Chain as your chosen charity


Over 4,000 shops and sites will donate to The Food Chain for FREE when you use easyfundraising to shop with them, so you can support us no matter what you're buying.
If you are an Amazon shopper, use smile.amazon.co.uk to sign onto your account. Choose The Food Chain as your charity and Amazon will donate to us every time you shop through them.
With best wishes
Teresa Rider
Chair of Trustees

If you have any comments or suggestions on how we can improve future newsletters, please send your thoughts to fundraising@foodchain.org.uk and we'll be in touch. 
 
The Food Chain (UK) Ltd | Registered Charity 1003014 | 020 7843 1800
www.foodchain.org.uk