Hunger game
SJ Hunt, chief executive of the Country Food Trust, talks of the challenges it faces and her delight at being the official charity of the fair for the second year running
The Game Fair takes place this year amid a particularly uncertain time for British society and the wider world. Lest we need reminding, there is the war in Ukraine, with all its implications, including food shortages because it is a major wheat producer, and the resultant refugees – all of whom need to be fed. At home, there is a febrile political atmosphere with a backdrop of industrial disputes. And there are supply chain issues causing shortages of goods, which have resulted in pushing up prices, giving us the so-called cost-of-living crisis.
But for many – far too many – the cost of living has been a crisis long before it became the latest political catchphrase. This is where the Country Food Trust (CFT) and other food poverty charities it works with have stepped in and helped to fill the hunger gap.
Delivery
The CFT is the official charity of The Game Fair for the second year running and will have a prominent presence at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire over the last weekend in July. The charity has delivered 2.5 million free game-based ready meals to people in need since its foundation in 2015 and it is continuing this vital work under its new chief executive, SJ Hunt.
SJ, as she is commonly known, took the CFT helm from Tim Woodward, the launch chief executive, at the turn of the year. SJ, who comes from an investment banking background, is looking to continue and expand on Tim’s “incredible work” and is very much up for the challenge.
She realises it won’t be easy as there are lots of calls on people’s money – compassion fatigue if you like. But there is a determination to progress the work and reach of the CFT. The ambition is to eventually provide two million meals a year, though the hope is always that the need won’t be there to have to do this.
The CFT works in tandem with thousands of food banks across the country and other complementary charities, such as FareShare and The Trussell Trust, to deliver its highprotein meals of pheasant curry, pheasant casserole and venison bolognese.
SJ says: “We give out frozen meat to kitchens. Smaller food banks need food pouches. We have a symbiotic relationship with the organisations who distribute and we try to keep the cost down so we can feed more people. We are trying to help everybody; as many people as possible.”
She adds that there is a need all over the country and many working families are turning to food banks. “People aren’t going to food banks if they are not in need … If people are hungry and can’t afford to eat, [they are] juggling [whether to buy] food and clothing.”
Reach
The CFT’s reach has also extended further afield thanks to the kindness of strangers. The trust provided and delivered more than 25,000 venison ragu meals to Ukraine following a recent appeal. The ambient pouches were convenient
“People aren’t going to food banks if they are not in need”
package to help with the crisis engulfing that country. SJ says she was “humbled” by the support given to the campaign.
Back to home and The Game Fair, she says she is delighted for the trust to have its support again this year to further boost its profile as its work is “more vital than ever”. Her remit is to grow the charity and she says she is looking forward to putting her ideas into practice.
SJ explains that she is always “thinking outside the box” and will bring new ideas and a fresh perspective to what the charity does. And talking of boxes, if you happen to pass by the CFT stand at Ragley, or one of its volunteers holding a bucket, perhaps give a thought to those less fortunate and, as James Gower, The Game Fair’s managing director, says, “donate whatever you can”.