Activism

Catering social enterprise hits £55k crowdfunding goal to get permanent home

Fat Macy's are boosting their ability to train homeless youths in catering skills with a new restaurant and training centre in London

Catering social enterprise Fat Macy’s now have all the ingredients they need to open a new permanent home after reaching their £55,000 crowdfunding goal.

The firm currently cook up supper clubs which train young homeless Londoners in catering skills, allowing them to serve three-course meals while also rustling up grub for corporate events.

We’ll now be able to work towards our dream of opening our first permanent space for Fat Macy’s, and working to end the cycle of homelessness for young Londoners

All staff working with Fat Macy’s earn ‘credits’ which then go towards a housing deposit and a step-to-step programme that helps them to learn how to live independently.

The credits earned by volunteering with the firm sees staff becoming eligible for a housing deposit grant after 150 hours’ service, giving the 12-20 Londoners the firm are aiming to help initially the opportunity to move into their own flat.

Working at Fat Macy’s helps homeless people to get out of the catch-22 situation of living in temporary accommodation where the costs of rent can outstrip income and halt progression into permanent accommodation.

Now, they are planning to use the £55,635 cash injection from the crowdfunding campaign that they set up in August to create a permanent home.

Plans are in place for a new all-day restaurant based in Peckham in south-east London that will also have room for a training centre and community hub to allow the social enterprise to diversify their offerings.

Moving on from their Mexican, Jamaican and Middle-Eastern-themed events, the plan for the restaurant is to offer breakfast, coffee and lunch all day before turning into a bar in the evening with small tapas-style dishes.

Fat Macy's are giving homeless Londoners the skills to improve their own lives

Meg Doherty, Fat Macy’s founder, said: “We’re beyond thrilled at the level of support and enthusiasm there has been for our crowdfunding campaign, and cannot quite believe we’ve made our target!

“Thanks to every single person who supported us, donated and tweeted, we’ll now be able to work towards our dream of opening our first permanent space for Fat Macy’s, and working to end the cycle of homelessness for young Londoners.”

The SEUK Awards are just around the corner and you can help us by voting to pick the winner of the Consumer Facing Social Enterprise category.

Cast your vote by midnight on November 5 to see who walks away with the prize at the November 23 ceremony.

Watch the Pride special collection.

Our LGBTQ+ film playlist offers a new and interesting angle on LGBTQ+ love and struggle – giving an international overview by taking us inside some of the most and least sexually liberated countries in the world.  

Sign Up Now

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
This man let 12 strangers give £100,000 of his money away. Governments should follow suit
Philanthropy

This man let 12 strangers give £100,000 of his money away. Governments should follow suit

Housing estate plagued by mould, damp and dire conditions. Now, residents are fighting back
tower hamlets
Housing

Housing estate plagued by mould, damp and dire conditions. Now, residents are fighting back

'He's like a caged animal in the flat': Meet the parents fighting for an adult social care revolution
Parents and children take part in a sensory parachute exercise at Linden Farm
Social care

'He's like a caged animal in the flat': Meet the parents fighting for an adult social care revolution

Big Issue founder John Bird celebrates vendors at House of Lords – and vows to help end destitution
National Vendor Week

Big Issue founder John Bird celebrates vendors at House of Lords – and vows to help end destitution

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know