A Morning Well Spent
Lynda Thwaite | Head of Brand and Communications
Members of our Brand and Communications team had the opportunity to spend a morning visiting two Liverpool‑based charities that Carpenters Group is proud to support.
Recently, I was privileged to visit two incredible places that Carpenters Group supports: Fans Supporting Foodbanks (FSF) and The Greenhouse Project.
On a cold and very blustery Thursday morning, the queue outside FSF was already long. Music blared out Buddy Holly and Beatles classics and faces smiled. There were endless hellos, hugs and pats on the back among the people there. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was given a very warm Scouse welcome, which immediately put my nerves at ease.
There was a palpable sense of community and joy. You can’t overlook the fact that many people there were in deep need, and that the foodbank is a vital lifeline, but there was also dignity and friendship woven throughout.
I spent time with Robbie Daniels and his wife - another Lynda with a y - who, alongside a small group of others, started Fans Supporting Foodbanks. What began as supporters collecting tins in a wheelie bin outside matches has, through their hard work and determination, grown into a national initiative.
Robbie spoke openly about the many challenges they continue to face. Food poverty in our city is real, and FSF has become essential. The organisation operates like a marketplace: for £3.50, people receive around £20 worth of food, including fresh meat such as a whole chicken. This means families keep money in their pockets to reinvest locally, and because FSF sources food from local suppliers, it creates a circular boost for the community
Nestled beside FSF, in temporary portacabins that somehow never became permanent buildings, is The Greenhouse Project. They provide vital early years care and education for local children. We met an outstanding team, including Annaliese, who is now the manager after attending the centre as a child herself.
As someone who is a total softie when it comes to children, meeting the young people there was incredibly moving. They were friendly, full of life and a joy to be around. The Greenhouse Project aims to provide all activities free of charge, supporting families across the area, including out‑of‑school provision.
They urgently need funding for better equipment, resources and furniture. These are not “nice to haves”, but essentials - things every child deserves.
I’m incredibly proud to work alongside people at Carpenters Group who genuinely want to make a difference. I’ll be putting my thinking cap on with our charity committee to explore how we can best support both organisations moving forward. For now, I wanted to shine a light on the remarkable people and charities that sit at the heart of this community.
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📱 Or simply text FOODBANKFC to 70460 to donate £5 (plus your standard network message rate)
