Food poverty initiative The Real Junk Food Project Twickenham (TRJFP) has been chosen by Haymarket Media Group as their charity partner.
The partnership, which will last three years, will support TRJFP’s aims by helping to drive awareness and connecting them with opportunities to fundraise.
The Real Junk Food Project Twickenham (TRJFP) tackles food poverty by providing affordable and healthy food at their cafés to the community that otherwise would have gone to landfill.
Kathy Garnett, Communications & Partnership Lead at TRJFP Twickenham, said: “We’re so excited about the huge opportunities having an official corporate partner brings us when it comes to getting inventive with fundraising, committing to bigger goals, testing new ideas and more with Haymarket.”
Since opening in 2018, TRJFP has fed 94,116 people and saved 278 tonnes of food, up to and including December 2024.
The initiative, set up by Crissy Weller and Clare Box who met at a yoga class, takes leftover food from supermarkets, restaurants, independent retailers and allotments and turns it into meals at the café.
The community café operates a ‘pay as you feel policy’ and aims to be a welcoming space, connecting people within a community.
They aim to help the homeless, low income families, elderly and people on their own.
From the initial café in Twickenham, which is based at ETNA Community Centre, the team has expanded its reach with surplus hubs and community cafés at Hampton Hill, Hampton, Richmond and Ham, which are run by a team of more than 80 volunteers.
With the support of the media group based in Twickenham, TRJFP hopes that they will be able to fund a fit-for-purpose central storage facility which will help to store and efficiently manage the distribution of dry, chilled and frozen food donations across different venues.
The fridge and freezer space will help them provide more nutritious and warm meals across the borough.
Garnett said: “In recent years there has been an uplift in interest and support for community initiatives at national level as issues such as the cost of living crisis, the impact of COVID and concern for the environment have prompted commercial organisations to take a more holistic view of their role and potential impact in society.
“However, the reality for most of the good causes out there – and there are so many brilliant groups of people trying to do good in so many ways – is that funding remains a critical issue.”
Celia MacMillan, Director of People and Communications at Haymarket Media Group said: “What really stood out to us is TRJFP’s innovative approach to tackling food waste and supporting those in need.”
MacMillan added: “While the new storage facility provides essential refrigeration, freezers, and dry goods storage, we’re focused on helping TRJFP scale their impact in the local community, by extending services and facilities across their current venues and beyond.
“Our goal is to build a sustainable partnership that delivers long-term value, and we’re committed to supporting them however we can, crucially helping those who need it most.”
Featured image: permission provided by TRJFP Twickenham
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