Food Troops; Cook. Grow. Thrive project

Help us to help RescU our food from landfill, reducing food waste and the burden on our planet and the threat to our food security.

As seen in the West Briton this week:

What Food Waste?
Did you know that the UK threw away almost 7 million tonnes of food last year, AND that more than 2 million children went to bed hungry? 

These shocking numbers are simply unacceptable, and it’s up to us to do something – fast.

We are Food Troops and we’ve made it our mission to educate you on how to save our food, and how to prepare, cook and eat so that nobody goes to bed hungry.

Since 2019, we’ve been waging war on waste, championing the veggie and feeding the most at-risk of food insecurity. 

Through our RescU pack scheme, we’ve saved over 10 000 kilograms of surplus food destined for landfills and redirected it to the stomachs of hungry families across Cornwall.

Alongside this we have educated 100 children through our cookery classes and our Vegucation Club box scheme. 

Did you know that 82% of children do not eat the recommended 5-a-day? 

This number is too high, as is the increasing number of children suffering from obesity and diet-related disease as a result of a significant lack of good quality nutritious food in their diet, these stats are significantly linked to obesity and deprivation. 

Why are we crowdfunding?

Now, with two new directors on board; Rupert Cooper (Philleigh Way cookery school) and Jane Lamming (from We Are With You) alongside founder Carrie Vallance (Food Science graduate a mum of 4), 

We are hoping to create significant impact within the areas of food security in our town and beyond. 

But we need your help. 

We’re expanding here in Redruth, Cornwall, and building a community space where people can eat, share and – most importantly – learn to grow food, cook for, and feed themselves. 

We’re asking you to join our mission - to turn the tide on hunger, raise awareness of food waste as well as childhood obesity and feed those in most need. 

One meal, one cooking class, one potato at a time, we’re working to grow our reach and make a difference to dinner tables across the UK. 

Please support us in our COOK. GROW. THRIVE project by supporting us and our cause today. 

We are proud to have been accepted in the #BackTheFuture Climate Challenge campaign with Cornwall council and encourage donors to dig deep and donate what they can to our cause. If we match our £5k target, Cornwall council and the campaign will match fund us £5k!! Just imagine the impact we can have with 10k behind us.  

What we need the money for:

£1000 will enable us to restart our cooking classes for families here in Redruth. Purchasing vital equipment and supplies 

£2000 will enable us to do the above and to create a community larder / fridge for the community to share surplus food and collect food RescU packs from our new hub in Redruth

£3000 will also help us develop a growing space and community garden in the heart of Redruth

£4000 will allow for us to deliver food supplies and essentials to the most vulnerable people in our community as well as develop our booking system and website for smooth ordering of our RescU packs.

£5000 will do all of the above plus allow us to develop our Vegucation Club boxes into larger boxes to be sent to schools and other groups and organisations, expanding our reach nationally. 

Any further money will then go onto creating online courses providing videos and tips on cookery and saving food waste alongside a new website and exclusive members area of the website.

Take a listen to our recent feature on BBC Radio Cornwall where we are discussing the need for more veggies in the diet and the things we are doing to help with this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09wm529

Thank you!