By Julie Clay, CEO of Food etc
At Food etc, we believe that food is more than fuel. It’s a pathway to confidence, independence and better wellbeing. Our charity empowers people to make better food choices by teaching them how to cook cheap, tasty and healthy meals from scratch. Whether it’s a group of primary school children discovering how to chop a carrot for the first time or a survivor of domestic abuse learning to feed themselves on a tight budget, we know that real, lasting change begins in the kitchen.
We work with a wide range of communities, including sixth formers, older people, formerly homeless people, care leavers, young mums and unpaid carers. Each of them faces their own challenges. What unites them is a desire to learn practical skills that improve their lives and, often, the lives of those around them.
Of course, running hands-on cookery workshops requires equipment—and that’s where the housewares industry has made a real difference.
Companies like Rayware, Lifetime Brands, Meyer and Burton McCall have already shown the power of practical support. Rayware supplied us with Kilner jars so we could teach participants to make overnight oats—an affordable, nutritious breakfast that has become a staple in many of our learners’ lives.
Lifetime Brands provided Colourworks paring knives with protective covers, ideal for helping young children safely learn basic knife skills. Meyer donated LocknLock containers so that course participants could take home what they’d cooked to share with their families. And Burton McCall’s gift of Stasher bags meant that children could safely store food for later, reinforcing lessons about planning and reducing waste.
These may sound like small items, but in our sessions, they are game-changers. The right equipment helps learners to feel capable and respected. It allows them to repeat the recipes at home and to pass them on to others. And it tells them—often for the first time—that someone believes in their potential.
We’re now expanding our work, reaching new communities including groups where English isn’t the first language, and designing courses that explore the link between food and mental health. This work is essential, and it requires more than just passion. We need additional funding, more equipment, and more people to deliver our courses.
This is where we hope more housewares businesses might come on board. Supporting Food etc can be a meaningful way to contribute to your corporate social responsibility goals. And it’s more than a donation, it’s a partnership. We offer all our supporters clear visibility of how their contributions are being used. If you’d like to see it in action, you’re welcome to join us at a workshop and roll up your sleeves.
We also provide high-quality images of our sessions and participants (with their consent) that our partners can use on social media, websites and presentations. These stories bring your products to life in a way few marketing campaigns can—showing the difference a single piece of kitchenware can make when placed in the right hands.
Our mission is simple, we want to help create and nurture confident cooks, but we believe that shouldn’t be determined by someone’s background or circumstances. And with the continued support of the housewares industry, we know we can reach even more people and empower them with the tools and knowledge to take control of their nutrition and their futures.
If you’d like to find out more or explore ways to support our work, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Together, we can put the power of good food—and good kitchenware—into more people’s hands.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin @Food etc Bedford
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