Banburyshire business delivers more than 300,000 meals to key workers and vulnerable across the UK during Covid-19 pandemic

Thomas Franks, a Hook Norton-based catering business, which has delivered more than 300,000 meals through its foundation to key workers and vulnerable people

Frank Bothwell, founder of Thomas Franks a Hook Norton-based catering business, said: "I am so proud of ‘Feeding Communities’ a massive feeding project, managed under our own charity - The Thomas Franks Foundation.

"To date we have provided over 370,000 meals across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta and Portugal. These fresh, healthy, nutritious meals and food parcels have been delivered to NHS staff, key workers, and vulnerable people of all ages.

"Our aim is to reach out to many more, which we will not stop doing. Over 100 charities are now benefiting from this food, but we are seeking more. During this pandemic we have provided meals to nurses at the Nightingale Hospitals, Birmingham City Hospital in conjunction with Gymshark, the Royal Berkshire Hospital’s ICU ward, Thatcham Hospital and many more.

Frank Bothwell, founder of Thomas Franks, a Hook Norton-based catering business which has delivered more than 300,000 meals through its foundation to key workers and vulnerable people

"The aims of Thomas Franks Ltd., via these projects is to alleviate hunger and food poverty. But ideally we need to eliminate it.

"Each week we are providing over 10,000 fresh, free meals to those most in need and we are not stopping there. Huge new projects are underway to quadruple our aid and giving.

"We want to thank all donors, volunteers and clients for giving up their kitchens and time."

The foundation has also launched an initiative in schools called Beyond Education – Being Human, which teaches pupils vital cookery skills and all the meals they produce in the lessons are packaged, labelled, and sent out to those in need in the schools’ community. This has been picked up across their locations in the UK and Portugal as well as Malta, where the initiative has been launched in partnership with the President of Malta.

Moving forward, Feeding Communities aims to help as many people as possible across the UK and Europe and spread awareness of food poverty, so more people are motivated to help others and make a difference.