The festive period this year is going to be hard for many people up and down the British Isles and the UK’s largest food and support services company, Compass Group UK and Ireland has joined forces with several charities in a bid to support local communities during this challenging time.
Managing Director, Robin Mills, said, “With people at the heart of our business it’s important to work with local communities to make a difference at this time of year. Charities have suffered this year without many of the big fundraising events taking place which raise crucial resources.
'Each of our sectors has led the way to support individual charities and as a business we work with a number of food surplus organisations to ensure we help as many as possible.
“I’m immensely proud of what we have been able to achieve this year and our people never fail to amaze me with their generosity of time and kindness to help others less fortunate. Hopefully we have been able to bring some Christmas cheer to those most in need.”
Here is a snapshot of some of the good Compass Group UK and Ireland is doing during the festivities:
• Compass Ireland donated €11,400 worth of food and drink to the Dublin Simon Community – who provides services to over 7,600 people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness – for vital Christmas supplies.
• Eurest employees in Edinburgh and Glasgow are working with social enterprise, Social Bite, on their mission to end homelessness, during its ‘Festival of Kindness’ by volunteering and donating gifts this Christmas.
• As a member of the Marcus Rashford Child Poverty task force, Chartwells is sending out 9,000 hampers packed with healthy food during school holidays, for those entitled to free school meals. In addition, Chartwells is working with charities Kitchen Social and Transforming Lives for Good to donate up to 2,500 nutritious food hampers, to help stop children going hungry in the UK during the Christmas holidays.
• ESS is supporting its local communities by donating over 1,000 Christmas care parcels to Royal Naval and Royal Marines Charity, Royal British Legion, RAF Benevolent Fund and Social Bite.
• Since the start of what would have been the 2020 Championships the Wimbledon Food & Drink team has partnered with The Wimbledon Foundation and food surplus distribution charity City Harvest to support the provision of more than 20,000 hot meals by Christmas Day.
• Compass Scotland is providing 3,000 meals across three cities in three days this Christmas. Partnering with the Social Bite charity to identify those affected by homelessness and poverty in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, the team is taking to the road with hot food and drink.
• RA Group is continuing its long-standing relationship with Refettorio Felix by donating another 1,600 meals over the festive period alongside members of the team volunteering. The group is also hosting a nationwide coffee cupping experience with Compass colleagues on 22nd December to raise some festive spirit and good will.
• Healthcare Retail has raised £20,000 for Alzheimer's Society with their annual ‘Elf Week’ where colleagues across 100 sites dressed up as elves to put a smile on people’s faces and raise much needed funds for Medirest’s dedicated charity.
• Compass and Foodbuy has donated over 236 tonnes of surplus food this year to charities including FareShare, Plan Zheroes, OLIO and Too Good To Go, this equates to over 560,000 meals.