

A COLLABORATION of charities is tackling unemployment issues head on, working with local people to increase skills and qualifications while providing a potential workforce for the region’s food and hospitality industries.
CatZero Humber and Beyond Food Foundation recently hosted a fundraiser for FreshLife, a structured, food-based programme, starting in 2025 in Grimsby. The event was held at Creative Start’s ‘The Great Escape’ building on Grimsby dock, where participants and staff from all three charities worked together to create an five-course menu for dignitaries, local businesses, and former participants.
Beyond Food have been in partnership with CatZero for several years, both charities sharing a similar ethos and hosting programmes that include elements such as money management, one-to-one sessions, personal action plans, CV’s, interview techniques, basic qualifications in first aid, food hygiene, and manual handling.
While CatZero uses its 72ft Challenge yacht as a tool for change, teamwork and confidence building, Beyond Food has the Brigade Bar + Kitchen, a short distance from The Shard and London Bridge. Beyond Food has already begun its journey into FreshLife as CatZero hopes to bring it to North East Lincolnshire during the early part of next year, with the support of Brigade and Beyond Food founder Simon Boyle.
Social entrepreneur, chef and author Simon was at the helm in the kitchen during the recent fundraising event, guiding his protégés through the culinary process. He said: “We cooked our hearts out all day to prepare a feast of amazing food, including a special Grimsby Scotch Egg, made with smoked haddock from Alfred Enderby and a soft-boiled quail’s egg.
“And what a night we had; it’s been amazing. Everyone really enjoyed it, and our guests understood what we are trying to achieve here, which is very positive.”
“Why are we doing it? We are trying to raise money so we can come back and collaborate through programmes, so we can work with vulnerable people and change their lives for the better.”
Jon King, operations manager at hosts Creative Start, a community interest company (CIC) supporting local people in recovery, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect people with the food industry in the area, where we have incredible food producers, manufacturing, and hospitality.
“It also highlights that this is an area people can move into, where they can find employment and opportunity, and build on life skills, and we are really proud to support it.”
Pete Tighe, partnership and development manager for CatZero, stated: “Over the last few years, we have seen the benefits of both CatZero and Beyond Food programmes, and we thought it would be a great idea to bring the best bits together, to motivate and inspire people.
“There is so much you can do with food: it’s about healthier lifestyles, jobs, creativity, and then to have the potential for a life-changing sailing voyage at the end, that can take you away for eight days, it’s a real opportunity for people to make big changes to their lives.”
The Mayor of the Borough of North East Lincolnshire, Cllr Steve Beasant, commented: “You can turn lives around and that’s what they (CatZero) do, all the time. We are crying out for change, and we need people to have aspirations. It is great to be here tonight.”
Guest and MP for Great Grimsby Melanie Onn said: “We’ve had a fantastic evening hearing about the progress that has been made with the young people that CatZero have been working with, but also the collaboration with other charities like Beyond Food.
“The food has been amazing; the hospitality has been fantastic. Looking forward to seeing what comes next.”
To date, there are approximately 11million people unemployed across the UK, or 4.2 per cent of the UK’s population. In the Yorkshire and Humber region, almost 90,000 working age people are unemployed, although this figure is said to be slowly decreasing. FreshLife hopes to be a contributor to its decrease in the future.
The FreshLife fundraising event was supported by Creative Start CIC, The Fishmongers Company, New England Seafoods, Alfred Enderby, and Made Great in Grimsby.
For more information, visit www.catzero.org or www.beyondfood.org.uk
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