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Our Organisation

Our values

Deep
Compassion

We genuinely care about people, showing empathy for their struggles, and belief when theirs runs out. We believe society is precious and doesn’t have to crumble.

Respectful
Inclusion

We know everyone deserves a second chance. We believe in outrageous inclusion. We welcome all with respect. Some call us “family”. We don’t  let go.

Chef
Expertise

We are founded & led by a chef. We bring the rigour of world-class kitchens to our work. We believe in teamwork and imparting both skills and camaraderie for a better life.

Resilient
Courage

We ask our participants to show courage as they face their challenges. We’ve the guts to tackle the hard stuff. We show courage every day as we fight for their happiness.

Personal
Growth

We know growth is bumpy and will look different for everyone. We support our participants to take charge of their lives, helping them grow beyond their current reality.

The people beyond food

The passion of the kitchen, resilient dedication and genuine care for all: our team is built on these pillars and values. To this, we add lived experience, our secret ingredient, as every member of our team has first-hand experience with unravelled lives, being able to empathise and break down barriers.

Simon Boyle

Founder & CEO

Simon is the vision behind the Beyond Food Foundation and Brigade Bar+Kitchen. Since 2004, he has worked tirelessly to help unravelled people across London rebuild their lives and regain their confidence. He’s been imparting his passion, skills and knowledge of cooking and food ever since.

Jo Littman

Business Development Manager

Jo is responsible for the long-term sustainability of Beyond Food Foundation, focusing mainly on fundraising, partnerships and events. She joined the foundation in October 2020, after a 30-year career in education, training and development.

George Smith

Programmes Manager

Joanne Tierney

Assistant Support & Progression Manager

Joanne joined Beyond Food Foundation in October 2021, she works alongside Jan providing daily support and guidance for our beneficiaries. Joanne previously worked in schools as an LSA for over 15 years.

Leon Seraphin

Brigade Chef Trainer

Leon was an apprentice in 2004 at the Hoxton Apprentice where he progressed to become Head Chef. Leon joined Beyond Food in 2013 supporting kitchen training skills and career development.

Alisha Gibson

Brigade FOH Trainer

Alisha is responsible for developing and implementing the delivery of Front of House skills, knowledge, and practical demonstration-based learning. She monitors the development of our participants in the Freshlife and Work experience programmes.

Simon Boyle

Founder & CEO

Simon is the vision behind the Beyond Food Foundation and Brigade Bar+Kitchen. Since 2004, he has worked tirelessly to help unravelled people across London rebuild their lives and regain their confidence. He’s been imparting his passion, skills and knowledge of cooking and food ever since.

Jo Littman

Business Development Manager

Jo is responsible for the long-term sustainability of Beyond Food Foundation, focusing mainly on fundraising, partnerships and events. She joined the foundation in October 2020, after a 30-year career in education, training and development.

George Smith

Programmes Manager

Joanne Tierney

Assistant Support & Progression Manager

Joanne joined Beyond Food Foundation in October 2021, she works alongside Jan providing daily support and guidance for our beneficiaries. Joanne previously worked in schools as an LSA for over 15 years.

Leon Seraphin

Brigade Chef Trainer

Leon was an apprentice in 2004 at the Hoxton Apprentice where he progressed to become Head Chef. Leon joined Beyond Food in 2013 supporting kitchen training skills and career development.

Alisha Gibson

Brigade FOH Trainer

Alisha is responsible for developing and implementing the delivery of Front of House skills, knowledge, and practical demonstration-based learning. She monitors the development of our participants in the Freshlife and Work experience programmes.

Trustees

Marcus Hines

Chair of Trustees

Marcus is a non executive director providing insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry; non executive director, Audit and Risk Chair at Barclays Investment Solutions Limited, an FCA regulated asset and wealth manager; an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee at NHS Resolution, manager of indemnity schemes across NHS England, and Trustee and Chair of Governance Committee at The Beyond Food Foundation, a registered charity.

Marcus Hines

Chair of Trustees

Marcus is a non executive director providing insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry; non executive director, Audit and Risk Chair at Barclays Investment Solutions Limited, an FCA regulated asset and wealth manager; an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee at NHS Resolution, manager of indemnity schemes across NHS England, and Trustee and Chair of Governance Committee at The Beyond Food Foundation, a registered charity.

Oliver Hatch

Charity Secretary

Oliver has worked in public libraries, run his own photography business. He directed the European conference series ‘Velo-city’ dedicated to promoting the bicycle as a sustainable form of transport. He also headed a collaboration to help found the All-Party Parliamentary Group for London. Olly has a passion for improving life for Londoners, volunteers at Tate Modern and sings in the ENO community choir.

Isadora Isadora

Trustee

Isadora is a solicitor specialising in private client matters. Previously, Isadora worked in Property Litigation at a legal aid firm acting for tenants in social housing and assisting with homeless applications. She is passionate about helping people who have experienced or been threatened with homelessness. Isadora has a great love for food fuelling her involvement with Beyond Food.

Ian MacEachern

Trustee

Ian started his finance career at Andersen/Deloitte and BSkyB before moving into the restaurant & hospitality sector. He held senior roles at D&D London, Caprice Holdings and the Birley group of private members clubs.He brings a wealth of hospitality experience to Beyond Food. As finance director of WSH restaurants, he supports their restaurant ventures and PwC/BaxterStorey partnership in operating the Brigade Bar Kitchen. He brings financial oversight to the Beyond Food Foundation.

Alessandro Mazza

Trustee

Alessandro Mazza is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. He has 15+ years’ experience in financial services, focusing on investment banking, debt capital markets, mergers & acquisitions. Alessandro has a deep-rooted passion for food, which brought him to invest in a hospitality business and get involved with Beyond Food. He serves as an Advisory Board Member for Mind with Heart, and as Trustee for Engera UK.

Louise Jenkins

Trustee

Louise Jenkins is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal Tax, LLP in London. Louise brings over 25 years of experience of advising companies on a range of employment-related tax issues, including the design and implementation of equity incentive plans.

Philip Miles

Trustee

Phil is a senior leader in the advertising industry who spent seventeen years at Google in commercial leadership roles including Managing Director of YouTube UK. Phil is now an executive coach and also a board advisor and consultant. Phil is a passionate supporter of Beyond Food Foundation (BFF) and its unique, hands on approach to helping unravelled people regain a foothold in society through food and the unique experience that BFF provides.

Philip Richardson

Trustee

Philip is the Hospitality and Leisure Industry Director for Barclays, responsible for providing sector specialism to a range of clients nationally across corporate and investment banks. Philip is an enthusiastic speaker about the sector. Previously, he headed up the healthcare infrastructure and structured project finance team at Barclays, with over 30 years of corporate banking experience across various roles.

History of BFF

2006

Simon starts working with homeless people

2007

Simon launches pop up ‘Beyond the House’ at the House of St Barnabas-in-Soho

2008

Simon goes on BBC’s Dragons Den seeking investment

2010

Beyond Food becomes a registered charity. Partners with DCLG raising £1.5m.

2011

Simon partnered with PWC to open Brigade Bar + Kitchen

2013

Beyond Food runs Apprenticeship programme

2013-14

Published books: “How to get a Job & keep it” and “How to Cook & keep on Cooking”

2017

1000th participant on FreshLife

2018

Partners with Crème conferences to establish corporate events

2020

Running online programmes during Covid

2021

Charity strategy is evolved beyond homelessness to focus all those whose lives have unravelled

2022

2000th participant on FreshLife

2022

Partners with The Fishmongers Company to extend Fresh Life to under 18s. Working with pupil referrral units

2023

Extends Fresh Life to target the incarcerated. Partners with Computacenter to launch program

2023

Partners with Chartered Livery of Accountants, to extend Fresh Life programme with work experience

Governance

Beyond Food is held accountable by multiple governing bodies: Board of Trustees for compliance, strategy alignment and operational rigour, City & Guilds for our programme delivery and content, Charity Finance Regulator for appropriate financial checks and protocol, Charities Commission for appropriation of funds and spend, and our accounts are annually externally audited and submitted as a public record.

Our charity number is 1136234
Our programmes have also been externally validated by City & Guild, confirming our robust approach and impact.
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