Our Impact

Benjamin knew he wasn`t bad –he just couldn’t do math, play football or even computers and was painfully obese.

Benjamin reports (age 11)

“But while I walked around like a fat smiling teddy bear trying to catch some numbers in my stuffy brain or kicking a ball with a leg of lead and smiling as if it was ok-I was hurting inside-until Young and Inspired`s kind boss-Mr Samual Lew invited me to join Water Warriors.”

Swimming instructor reports about Benjamin

“From being deathly afraid to enter the water and repeatedly stating-I`m fat, I can`t, Benjamin amazed us all-Fighting the initial fear, Benjamin swims like a fish, he caught all the strokes well before others let go off their arm bands-today 8 months hence he dives perfectly.”

Benjamin`s mother reports

“Benjamin has lost weight for the first time in his life-and a whole stone in less than a year-I`m positive it`s Water Warriors  credit. He loves the sessions and is slowly rebuilding his self-image-we rarely hear I can`t from him these days.”

Rachel relates,

“I did not get along with school.  Some teachers called me lazy, unmotivated and scatterbrained, but the truth was, I really did want to succeed.  Somehow academics didn’t work for me.  I failed in maths and was even worse in English.  I somehow floated through the years, but in Year 11 I had enough and dropped out of school.  I spent my days painting.  I loved artwork and enjoyed the thrill of capturing still life settings on canvas and my stuff came out really good. It was great to paint, but even I found myself bored sometimes and truly I wished I had a job, so I could earn some money and start saving for my future. 

In June my good friend Suri encouraged me join ‘Savvy & Successful’.  I was weary at the beginning, thinking it would be like school- getting yelled at and degraded for my failures.  But since I was bored, I decided to join.

It was great.  Better than that actually.

The career advisor saw my artwork and recommended a digital illustration and graphics course that could help me fine-tune my talents in a lucrative way.  I also learned that freelance work cannot suit me as I need the pressure of deadlines, and struggle with time management and self-motivation, I joined soft skills training and learned about work ethic and how to communicate effectively and present well at job interviews.  I am working as a junior manager and designer at Published now and very successful there.  Thank you ‘Young & Inspired’ for believing in me and pushing me out of the poverty and benefits cycle.

Read Rachel’s “Outcome star framework” (PDF)

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Leeba 11

“We have been struggling with money in our family for months now and we were not able to afford even the basics, but receiving charity was too degrading.  With the cost-of-living crisis looming over our heads; it was not a question of Eat or Heat. 

We had none.

Resignedly we agreed to a referral.  Being a part of SuperEats was life-changing.  Their meals are delicious, free and delivered right to our doorsteps.  The best part was that Young & Inspired n thanked us for saving the planet and avoiding good food from going to waste.  It made us feel a whole lot better.  I cannot thank you enough,” Chana Greenwald

The exhilaration and freedom I feel as my kayak cuts through the water and breezes down the lake is priceless. We love water warriors and are gaining so many new skills and friends Esther, 14

“I used to feel like I’m cheating my toddler, feeding her tinned and jar food only and takeout on holidays. I didn’t begin to know how to cook anything other than pasta and noodle soup and was clueless how to budget my tight income to choose the most value for money foods. Conquer the Kitchen’ has taught me to budget effectively and prepare nutritious meals for us. Mealtimes have become a meaningful bonding experience (Simi) 

There is something so special and delicious about a slice of toast and heart shaped omelette with perfectly sliced cucumber things which we have on Sundays at Young and Inspired`s breakfast club. I have tried to recreate this at home for my siblings when mum works till late, for our dinner and it tastes fine, but far from how it tastes and feels at Sunshine Breakfast Club. I am sure it’s about the atmosphere and friendships that are so magical there. Maybe also the feeling that we can have as much bread and vegetables as we like without feeling as if we are eating someone else’s portion. 

Layla was 21 years old and had a toddler when she gave birth to a baby who screamed incessantly and had projectile vomiting for 12 months straight. After her maternity leave, she couldn’t resume her work, due to her baby`s severe reflux, it didn`t help that her husband was also unemployed due to his alcohol problems. 

With no source of income, the family was quickly drowning financially. They applied for Universal Credit but whilst this was pending they were evicted with section 21 and moved into emergency accommodation. They didn’t have decent kitchen facilities nor money for takeout or even regular groceries, let alone baby formula. During this traumatic period, she developed a low-grade depression and gradually withdrew socially.

Layla`s support worker  referred her to our Conquer the Kitchen club. Layla visited the shared kitchen and attempted to cook for her family; however, she was so overwhelmed by painful thoughts and fatigued from her nights awake with her baby and her depression that she lacked the energy to cook and took home meals prepared by volunteers instead. 

Since this service is time-limited to curb dependency she agreed to join cookery workshops during this time.   “Joining the cookery club has been an incredible journey for me. I learned delicious recipes and how to be creative and economical with ingredients and cook amazingly without standing on my feet for   ages. It also gave me the ability to repurpose leftovers and create budget-friendly meals that make   dinner time with family much more enjoyable.’’

In 2022, she was paired with a budgeting buddy who helped her become aware of her finances and create an effective debt payment plan. Her Universal Credit came through and payment was back dated. She no longer depended on the community kitchen as her new flat had a  kitchen but still visited from time to time ‘for the vibe which I miss and to inspire others.’ 

Furthermore, we recommended a job as a sound producer for a partnering school concert, as she has a talent in music producing which enabled her to further secure her family’s financial stability and provided her with renewed purpose and fulfillment. 

She also begun volunteering at our Community Cabinet, a service by Conquer the Kitchen. Seeing her rapport and connection with vulnerable young parents visiting the community cabinet, our trustees offered her free training which she completed successfully hired her as Crisis Support Worker.  Her direct experience with food poverty makes her extremely empathetic to other young parents and they really appreciate her support.

She was on Steering Committee which developed the SuperEats in December 2022 which involves the broader community to reduce food insecurity and food waste by collecting surplus food from food businesses and delivering it to those with most urgent needs.