A charity will be able to deliver an extra 50,000 meals to homeless people on the streets of London after being gifted an electric van.
The Thomas Franks Foundation – which runs Feeding Communities, a programme named a Big Issue Changemaker in 2025 – took delivery of the cutting edge vehicle at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in March.
The van will ease the load on the current Feeding Communities trolley, which has seen its wheels replaced at least eight times, and allow them to more than double the number of meals they give out.
“This first-of-its-kind electric vehicle will become the linchpin of the Thomas Franks Foundation’s operations in London, allowing us to reach more people in need when they need us,” said Frank Bothwell, CEO and founder of Thomas Franks.
Launched during Covid and led by professional chef Dean Collins and director Raj Singh, the Feeding Communities initiative delivers hot food to those experiencing homelessness in the capital.
The team’s rounds around central London previously involved a 200kg hand-pushed trolley, laden with lasagne, vegetable curry, rice pudding and more.