This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
My friend Claudia and I have been extremely lucky. Why? Because we have started volunteering for UKHarvest, a really worthwhile charity run by enthusiastic young people. It is, as TV’s Miranda would put it, such fun.
UKHarvest is a for impact environmental food rescue charity, based in Chichester. They collect quality excess food from commercial outlets and deliver it, direct and free of charge, to 112 different charities and organisations. The food is then used to feed vulnerable people all across the South East. Their mission in the UK is to ‘Nourish our Nation’: eliminating hunger and food waste through the redistribution of good food, educating, engaging with communities and inspiring innovation.
UKHarvest started in the Spring of 2018 and now deliver 29,000 meals per week, saving over 760 tonnes of good food from going to landfill. Their other initiatives include educating people about food, working with a broad range of people within the community ranging from young carers and young people in care, to school children and young people still in education, such as university students. They use rescued, surplus food in all of their classes, awareness raising events and surplus suppers/lunches (pop-up restaurants).
Education is really at the core of what they do: in order to make a real change education is the catalyst in spurring key behaviour changes, which will prevent food waste and help people nourish themselves. UKHarvest’s NourishEd Learning programmes provide a focus on food literacy, supporting individuals, families and communities to live well, to age well and to help to combat social isolation. They help local community groups to come together and share their cultures, problem solve and nourish their lives and their specialist courses are adaptable for a range of all ages, abilities and dietary needs.
Last October they opened their new Nourish Café in Draper’s Yard in Chichester and this was the initiative that really appealed to Claudia and I. We do a three hour shift every week under the direction of chef Roger, which entails prepping and cooking vegetarian and vegan dishes using some of the fresh surplus food UKHarvest has rescued. The menu has to adapt according to what products are to hand, so it’s a bit like the invention test on Masterchef!
It is always healthy and nutritious food, such as jacket potatoes with toppings, freshly made soups and a daily curry or chilli. All profits go back into UKHarvest to help reach more people who are food insecure.
What Claudia and I have discovered is that just giving a little of our time has already made a really positive difference to our lives. We really do have fun and never seem to stop laughing – the time just flies by.
If you’re also considering volunteering, why not read my piece on foodbanks
To find out more about this innovative charity go to the UKHARVEST WEBSITE