Real Swifties help Food Banks
Taylor Swift made headlines for donating to UK Food Banks along her UK Eras Tour. Cardiff Foodbank reported that Swift’s donation was the largest donation from an individual that the organisation had ever seen. The musician’s generosity has meant that Food Banks can actually lift their heads and shift focus from the food bank to the creation of a sustainable operation supporting those suffering from poverty and hunger.
In the heart of communities across England, food banks are operating as crucial lifelines for individuals and families facing food insecurity. These charitable hubs are more than just collection points for food; they represent a collective effort to combat hunger and provide support to those in need.
Despite their critical role, food banks are faced with challenges such as maintaining sufficient stock and resources to meet an ever-growing demand. The reliance on food banks is a stark reminder of the broader social and economic issues that need addressing. While food banks are not a long-term solution to food poverty, they are an essential emergency service for many.
Our Firm’s collaboration with Food Bank Aid has resulted in various opportunities for our lawyers and business services professionals to create impact beyond rendering financial donations. Food Bank Aid is uniquely positioned in that it is a "hub" that redistributes much-needed donations throughout North London and Hertfordshire. The grassroots charity - set up during the pandemic - directly delivers food, toiletries, and household items to over 33 food banks, supporting over 20,000 people each week.
Our IP, Tax and Commercial teams have advised the organisation in relation to its business needs, including issues such as brand protection, reviewing commercial agreements and contractual advice. We have also been supporting Food Bank Aid with skills sharing projects. More recently, the CRS PR Team has assisted Food Bank Aid with its marketing potential and our Knowledge team worked on a large research project with them. In December 2023, CRS employees organised an impressive 46 packages of food and household goods to boost Food Bank Aid’s pool of resources. We will be running a summer campaign to raise funds and resources for the organisation and hope to continue to provide robust support to the charity.
“Almost two million children across the UK have free school meals and so whilst many of us are looking forward to getting away over the school holidays those children and their families will be wondering more than ever where their next meal is coming from. Food Bank Aid and the food banks they supply are providing essential support to these families and in many cases preventing parents from having to forego meals to ensure their children can eat”.
James Souter, Partner
