As I write this it is hard not to pause and look back to see where we have come from. It has been an extraordinary journey from the discussion of the concept of this charity, in a small gathering in London in late 2014 to our first fundraising dinner in the beautiful surroundings of Syon House.
It is an understatement to say, as we set out to help tackle food poverty, that our knowledge level in the area of food manufacturing was limited! The concept of what we are doing may have been considered locally before, but the idea of producing food from game on this scale and nationally was new and we needed two things to make it a reality; generous funding and sound advice. Our wonderful founding donors were amazingly generous and understood what we were trying to achieve and this allowed us to focus and complete our trial year successfully. In addition to those donors, we are incredibly grateful for the plentiful advice, especially our incredible ambassadors who continue to advise and support the charity and spread the word. Looking back at my first notes from March 2015, it is clear that the sage advice helped us to be in the position where last year we had the delight of producing and delivering over 20,000 meals to those most in need in the North East and South West.
Last month we finalised our future country casserole which has double the pheasant breast of the trial year and is more a casserole and less a hearty soup, and are working hard on the packaging which many of you have commented on. We are also starting to work on a partridge recipe with our chef Tim Maddams, a partridge, chickpea and squash curry. We are working hard on the retail side of the charity where we will donate a casserole to someone in need every time we sell one; this should help the charity become sustainable over the long term. Feeding one million people should be the interim aim not the end.
The Country Food Trust set out with a simple mission to feed those in need and since we started I have had the chance to meet many of those we are helping and to be amazed at people’s resilience in trying and difficult circumstances. A day spent delivering to the charities and meeting those we are helping, puts things entirely into perspective and makes me realise exactly what is so important about this charity and its aims. You will see in another section the additional charities beyond our partner FareShare that we have been helping in recent months.
However we continue to need your support and going forward we need many more people, particularly those who participate in country sports, to help in order for this charity to be sustainable in the long term. We have met no one thus far who does not agree with the concept of what we are trying to achieve and whilst this charity does not have the aim of lobbying for field sports, if the country sports fraternity is able to significantly aid those in need, then surely it only adds to the list of benefits of those sport in this country.
Tim Woodward
Chief Executive
The Country Food Trust
Stop Press!
We are delighted to announce that Sir Ian and Liam Botham have confirmed that The Country Food Trust will receive one third of the funds raised at the Botham charity clay shoot on 12th July 2017. If you would like to take part in this event please email the Botham Charity Shoot
