Real Junk Food, a Manchester-based charity which provides nutritious meals for the homeless and low income families, has received 拢10,000 of matched funding from Santander鈥檚 new Changemaker Fund to open the city鈥檚 first waste food pay-as-you-feel caf茅.
The Fund, which was launched at the end of last year as part of an innovative collaboration between Santander and a rewards-based crowdfunding platform, is designed to help social enterprises, small charities and community groups deliver projects that improve communities and help disadvantaged people to have confidence in the future.
Real Junk Food鈥檚 aim is to stamp out food waste and offer a fairer, more sustainable food system. The project has run a number of pop-up restaurants across Manchester, catered for weddings and cooked meals for those in shelters and hostels. The project works on a pay-as-you-feel basis, offering an optional financial donation, meaning that people from all backgrounds are welcome, regardless of whether or not they have money.
The successful matched funding will enable Real Junk Food to open the waste food pay-as-you-feel caf茅 and restaurant. The money will pay for the design and production of a mobile kitchen as well as new furniture for the caf茅. Money spent at the caf茅 will be reinvested into all aspects of the project, including skills and support.
Sue Douthwaite, Managing Director of Santander Business Banking, commented: 鈥淲e are thrilled to be able to support Real Junk Food as they open this very exciting new caf茅 and restaurant in Manchester. The scheme addresses the important issue of food waste as well helping many people in need, and we look forward to seeing how the project develops with the benefit of this funding.鈥
Corin Bell, Director at Real Junk Food, commented: 鈥淭hrough the Changemaker Fund we have been able to finance our transaction into a fully functioning restaurant for people from all walks of life to enjoy. The kitchen equipment bought will help our chefs and enable the project to convert wasted food into more meals, more efficiently.鈥
The new Changemaker Fund, , is part of Santander鈥檚 flagship community programme, The Discovery Project, which aims to inspire people to have confidence in the future through projects that build skills, grow knowledge and support innovation.
By working together with Crowdfunder, Santander aims to enable entrepreneurs and community groups to tackle social challenges and create positive local impact. Eligible projects seeking funding of up to 拢20,000 and focussed on skills, knowledge and innovation that get the crowd鈥檚 backing will receive 50% of their funding requirement from Santander to ensure the enterprise reaches its target.
As well as access to the 拢200,000 matched funding from Santander, projects will benefit from crowdfunding team specialists with education, enterprise and coaching support to unlock further funds and create lasting impacts in communities across the UK.
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About Us
Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. It has brought real competition to the UK, through its innovative products for retail customers and relationship banking model for UK SMEs. At 31 December 2016, the bank serves around 14 million active customers with c20,000 employees and operates through 841 branches (which includes 60 university branches) and 67 regional Corporate Business Centres. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.
Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading retail and commercial bank, headquartered in Spain, with a meaningful market share in 10 core countries in Europe and the Americas. It is among the world鈥檚 top banks by market capitalization. The bank鈥檚 purpose is to help people and businesses prosper, in a way that is simple, personal and fair. Founded in 1857, Santander had EUR 1.52 trillion in managed funds, 125 million customers, 12,200 branches and 188,000 employees at the close of 2016. Santander made attributable profit of EUR 6,204 million in 2016, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year.
About Real Junk Food
Real Junk Food is a community interest company that aims to abolish waste food through a 鈥楶ay-As You-Feel鈥 concept, empowering communities and inspiring individuals. The Real Junk Food Project is a collaborative effort between catering professionals and activists to bring about a radical change in our food system. As well as the positive environmental impacts of reducing edible food waste, the project also has clear social benefits through operating a strictly Pay-as-you-feel (PAYF) policy.
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