The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers

Livery Food Initiative

As Chair of our Charities’ Committee from September 2022, I was delighted to join the Livery Charity Chairs’ Group (LCCG), which is chaired by the amazing Hilary Lindsay. One area of focus for this group is the Livery Food Initiative. I am told that across London 10.2 million meals are needed each month to sustain people who are experiencing food poverty. At the same time around 13 million meals are wasted each month.  Food wastage is one of the leading contributors to climate change.

 

The LCCG has partnered with City Harvest to collect and deliver healthy food on a daily basis to help relieve what some have called a serious humanitarian crisis in our own back yard. Last autumn the LCCG launched an initiative to raise sufficient funds to keep another City Harvest Van rolling for 3 years at a cost of £140, 000. Each van delivers thousands of meals every day, distributed through other charities and organisations. This is a fantastic example of grant making bodies collaborating together to make a bigger difference. I’m delighted to say that your Charity, the Tax Advisers’ Charitable Trust, is one of the financial supporters of this initiative. We played our part alongside 79 Livery Companies and Guilds and raised the funds required for a new City Harvest Van to hit the road with almost sufficient funds to keep it on the road for 3 years.  It meets so many of our criteria. For every £1.00 we donate I am advised that there is a corresponding social value of £12.70. We’re involved in taking direct action to reduce food poverty and by redistributing surplus food we’re making a positive difference to both society and the planet while living our ESG investment and grant making objectives.

 

To celebrate this first milestone, City Harvest wrapped the van with Livery Food Initiative logos to endorse our support.  On Monday 6 March the Lord Mayor, Alderman Nicholas Lyons, Sheriff Andrew Marsden and their Consorts assembled in Walbrook, City of London, for the launch of this first van. I was delighted that Past Master Marcus Fincham, Past Master Michael Godbee and Court Assistant Vaughan Robinson were able to attend the launch ceremony on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers’ and the Tax Advisers’ Charitable Trust. I am extremely grateful to them. Vaughan took some wonderful photographs of the occasion including a lovely photo of Marcus with Hilary and with the van.

 

If you would like to know any more about the Livery Food Initiative or about our Charities and their activities, please do not hesitate to get in touch either with me or with any member of the Charities’ Committee.

Lorraine Parkin

Chair

Tax Advisers” Charitable Trust

Tax Advisers’ Benevolent Fund.