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Livery Food Initiative

London is facing a humanitarian crisis with food poverty increasing in the capital.

  • The Livery Food Initiative aims to reduce food poverty.
  • The Livery Charity Chairs Group recognised that they could have more impact if they collaborated and so the Livery Food Initiative was formed.
  • LCCG launched the Livery Food Initiative, partnering with City Harvest.
  • City Harvest rescues food that is going to waste and delivers it to over 375 charities across London.
  • More City Harvest vans are needed to deliver food in and around the City.
  • We are asking all Livery Charities to give what they can over the next three years.

In its first 8 months

Livery Food Initiative van fundraiser

It costs £190k to fund a van for 3 years. The Livery Food Initiative has just completed funding the first van.

Please help us start fundraising for a truck.

Lord Mayor of London Launches Livery Food Initiative City Harvest van to Fight Food Poverty in the City

City AM News Coverage of the Lord Mayor and Steve Winningham

City AM photo story: 6th March 2023, The Lord Mayor, Alderman Nicholas Lyons gives the keys to the new City Harvest van to City Harvest Chair and Co-Founder Steve Winningham in front of Mansion House, Walbrook. 

David Laxton, Bowyers. Laura Winningham OBE, Drapers. Denise Easteal, Management Consultants. Hilary Lindsay, Chartered Accountants. Fiona Hollis,  City Harvest. Sarah Calcutt, City Harvest. Richard Winstanley OBE, Drapers.

City Harvest vans deliver free nutritious food for 1.2 million meals a month to 375+ charities and groups across London. In a time where children are denied free school meals and families cannot afford to eat at home, this van is a symbol of the humanitarian crisis we are facing.

The Livery Food Initiative van is a symbol of the emergency we are facing in London. The need is greater than ever and we are working 7 days a week from depots in east and west London to deliver free surplus food for over 1.25 million meals a month to people facing food poverty.

LFI Timeline In December The Livery Charity Chairs group formed a pan Livery company initiative to collaborate to help tackle food poverty with City Harvest, exactly 3 months later, the Lord Mayor presented the keys to City Harvest chairman, Stephen Winningham.

To date over £185,000 has been raised to support the first LFI x City Harvest van, delivering free food to people in need. There is still more money to raise and we would love to hear from people wanting to be part of this journey.

City Harvest currently has 18 vans travelling across London rescuing surplus food and delivering it to 375+ schools, food banks, hostels, soup kitchens and community groups.  This van will deliver millions of meals and support people and families unable to afford food due to the cost of living crisis.

LFI News

The Fruiterers support City Harvest London

The Fruiterers support City Harvest London

The Fruiterers’, part of the Livery Food Initiative supporting food rescue charity, City Harvest, give out apples in support of the London charity on the Lord Mayor’s City Giving Day, October 2023.

Elena Oderstone, from the Worshipful Company of Fuellers reaches the summit of Kilimanjaro raising money for City Harvest

A huge thank you and congratulations to Elena Oderstone from the Worshipful Company of Fuellers who reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro raising money for City Harvest. An incredible acheivement.

“This van will change people’s lives, offering reliable support and delivering hope in a very bleak time for so many.”

Sarah Calcutt

CEO, City Harvest

History of the Livery Companies and City Harvest

During Lockdown, the Livery Companies supported people facing food poverty across London by making meals for City Harvest to distribute via the Livery Kitchen Initiative. The Livery Food Initiative continues the relationship by providing funding to keep City Harvest vans running.

Resources

  • Recorded zoom of the London Livery Charity Chairs Group explaining the LFI, hosted by initiative founder, Hilary Lindsay.

  • Livery Committee Website