charity - Goodtrippers

Cool! London opens doors on its first People’s Fridge

An innovative new scheme to fight food waste and food poverty is growing with a new London initiative launched this week…

Ben Longman, Olivia Haughton, Rebecca Trevalyan and Sebastian Wood launch the People's Fridge (photo Sebastian Wood) — Ben Longman, Olivia Haughton, Rebecca Trevalyan and Sebastian Wood launch the People’s Fridge (photo Sebastian Wood)

The People’s Fridge (similar to the community fridges championed by Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty on their Friday Night Feast in January) has just moved into Pop Brixton in south London. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, residents and local businesses are invited to stock it with edible goodies that would otherwise, needlessly, have to be thrown away.

A community fridge can be used by anyone for free – those who want to share food that would be otherwise go to waste, and those for whom access to fresh and free food is hard to come by. Like other community fridges dotted around the country, the Pop Brixton fridge, London’s first, will be helping to solve the pressing problems of food waste and food deprivation.

Did you know that restaurants throw away 900,000 tonnes of food a year, while UK households bin approximately 24 meals’ worth of edible food every month? When an estimated 8.4 million people are living in food insecurity, relying on food banks to feed themselves and their families, The People’s Fridge movement is such as essential, and smart, answer to this problem.

Similar fridges operate in Frome in Somerset and in Derbyshire, with Spain, Germany and India also running similar schemes. If you’d like to see a community fridge set-up in your area, get onto your local council and help drum-up some local support. Next time you’re going away for a few days, you could be putting that milk, cheese, salad or glut of homegrown courgettes into a People’s Fridge for anyone to have. Now that’s cool!

Follow London’s first community fridge via Twitter

Eco and Ethical Christmas Gift Guide – For Her

For mums, grandmas, aunts, sisters and friends…our pick of the best eco and ethical Christmas gifts for her.

Hygge gift set – £59 from Aerende, www.aerende.co.uk

It became one of the words of 2016, now you can spread a bit of Danish cosiness to the Scandi-lover in your life with this ‘hygge’ gift set. Featuring handmade cup and saucer for warming hot chocolates, a handmade organic cotton cushion to snuggle up to, and a (Danish essential) soy wax scented candle. All products are handmade by social enterprises and charities – the cup and saucer has been made by residents with learning disabilities at The Grange in Glocestershire; the cushion is handmade by refugees in Hertfordshire as part of a Refugee Council project; and the candle is made by staff with a range of additional needs at Beacons Creative in Wales. Browse the rest of the Aerende range for more brilliant handcrafted gifts from people facing a range of social challenges.

‘Samphire’ eau de toilette (100ml) – £60 from Laboratory Perfumes, www.laboratoryperfumes.com

This inventive British brand makes perfume the ‘old fashioned way’, taking inspiration from natural botanicals and using natural oils. We love this cool, fresh, coastal fragrance of verbena, juniper, lavender, citrus oils, basil and rosemary with base notes of oak moss and amber. Other fragrances in the range include Atlas, Amber, Gorse and Tonka – all unisex, they develop into something unique on every individual. All perfumes come in a stylish, minimalist cardboard tube. Matching scented candles are also available.

‘So Sleepy’ limited edition collection – £10 from Tropic Skin Care, www.tropicskincare.com

This brand new set from Tropic Skin Care is a perfect stocking filler. Including a travel-sized pillow mist and temple roll-on to help you nod off into a deep sleep. It smells gorgeous thanks to the essential oils rosewood, vanilla and lavender.

Artisan Sparkling Elderflower Wine Maker’s Kit – £40.99 from Yumbles, www.yumbles.com

This fun DIY kit includes everything you need to make your own sparkling elderflower wine (3 litres of it!). The ingredients are organic, vegetarian and gluten free, and the equipment is suitably ‘chemistry set’ fun and easy to use. Time for some bubbles!

Smoke & Musk travel candle – £16 from Museum of London shop, www.museumoflondonshop.co.uk

Handpoured in east London using eco-friendly soy wax, this scented candle smells like being in a cosy cabin in the woods. A bespoke blend of essential oils including green balsam fir, wood smoke and musky patchouli. This handy travel size makes a great stocking gift; it’s also available in a 3-wick 500ml size (for £50).

Butterfly Collection ‘Revive’ and ‘Indulge’ gift sets – £19.95 and £8.50 from Green People, www.greenpeople.co.uk

The new Butterfly Collection organic skincare and bodycare travel sets from Green People make good stocking fillers or tree presents. Beautifully packaged, a donation from each sale goes to Butterfly Conservation to help protect butterflies, moths and the environment. The ‘Revive’ body wash and lotion set is scented with uplifting lemongrass and ginger, while ‘Indulge’ is a special night-time facial treat.

‘Bird’ brass earrings – £15 from Danaqa, www.danaqa.com

We love these cute brass earrings from online boutique Danaqa. Handcrafted by a husband and wife team at their studio in Iran, these earrings also come in a variety of bird and tree designs – and at this price make lovely stocking fillers or tree presents. Browse more gift ideas on the Danaqa site – their homewares, jewellery and accessories are all ethically and fairly sourced, and support women-led businesses in developing countries.Aphrodite facial oil (30ml) – £20 from MOA (Magic Organic Apothecary), www.moa.london

This organic and vegan-friendly super-luxe facial oil rejuvenates and rehydrates party-worn and stressed-out skin. The delicately scented balm is packed full of organic yarrow essential oil, rosehip and damask rose oil (organic ‘hero herb’ yarrow, which is native to British hedgerows, and has been used for centuries to heal, repair and leave skin naturally glowing). It smells delicious and is non-greasy – just apply overnight and wake up with a glowing complexion!

Foxhole Gin – £40 from Foxhole Spirits, www.foxholespirits.com

This is a first, a gin distilled from unused English wine grapes picked in Sussex vineyards. In a typical harvest around 30-40% of grape material is unused and has to be thrown away – so this gin helps reduce waste and encourage sustainability. Velvet-textured with floral coriander and orris flavours, and balanced with grapefruit and lemon zests, this gin has a long finish of subtle bitter orange notes. Grab one of the 960 first-batch limited edition bottles.

Puressential Gentle Heat Diffuser – £18.67 from Cocoon Center, www.cocooncenter.co.uk

Aromatheraphy the clean, safe way – with no candle or flame, this essential oil ceramic diffuser can be placed on any surface as heat is only located at the top. Available in navy or white.

Dr Organic Lavender Oil Moisturising Gel Socks – £15 from Holland & Barrett, www.hollandandbarrett.com

Socks for Christmas? Yes, but these are no ordinary socks… Pop these on and create silky smooth feet after just 20 minutes of pampering a day. The socks are infused with lavender oil with a balanced blend of moisturising jojoba oil, olive oil and vitamin E, and an organic cocktail of essential oils including jasmine, patchouli, bergamot, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, vetiver root, cedarwood and emerald cypress oils.

Avalon Organics Intense Defense skincare collection – RRP £34.99 from www.avalonorganics.com (for stockists)

Perfect for keeping winter skin in tip-top condition, this set includes organic Cleansing Gel with pure botanical cleansers, Renewal Cream to encourage collagen production, and Antioxidant Oil to reinforce the skin’s natural lipid barrier. Enriched with vitamin C, lemon and white tea it’s got plenty of zing, and an attractive make-up bag to boot.

Coconut Collection beauty range – from £1.75 by Urtekram, www.urtekram.com (for stockists)

Coconut and Danish – not a yummy pastry but two of the trends of 2016, so what better gift than something from the new Coconut Collection by Danish organic beauty brand Urtekram? Featuring vegan and cruelty-free shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion, each product is infused with organic virgin coconut oil and organic coconut nectar from palm trees in the South Seas.

Eco and Ethical Christmas Gift Guide – For Kids

For babies, toddlers and little ones, here are some eco and ethical gift ideas to light-up little faces on Christmas morning…

Campervan walker toys – £62.50 from Jo & Co, www.joandcohome.com

These funky campervan walkers are made of wood from natural rubber trees that no longer produce latex. The lovely design means it’s a piece of kit that you don’t mind taking up space in the living room! Suitable for 12 months+, the walkers encourage early movement, but confident toddlers will also love pushing them around like trollies and using them as toy storage. Available in blue or pink.

Racoon Pyjamas Set – £20 from Rockin’ Baby, www.rockinbaby.com

We love the Rockin’ Baby brand – they’ve partnered with ChildFund for their one-for-one, mother-for-mother scheme: for every piece purchased, the scheme provides slings and clothing to children living in poverty worldwide. To support a great programme, these cute Raccoon PJs are great for lazy Sundays as well as bedtime. Available in sizes from 18mths to 10yrs.

Jungle Safari Wooden Skittles (large) – £30 from ZSL Shop, www.shop.zsl.org

You can’t beat a wooden game, and these large hand-painted skittles are a quirky and cute twist on the traditional version. Featuring two balls and six skittles (hippo, elephant, zebra, lion, monkey, giraffe). Everything bought from the ZSL (Zoological Society of London) shop helps support their ongoing conservation work around the world.

Toy Dinosaur – £30 from Zaliwana Accessories, www.zaliwanaaccessories.co.uk

Zaliwana Accessories specialise in sourcing handcrafted, ethically-sourced gifts from around the world. This felt dinosaur has been lovingly handmade in Nepal. Suitable from newborns upwards, no-one will be able to resist a cuddle!

Bamboo 3-piece dining set – £14.50 from Yours Sustainably, www.yourssustainably.com

This cute and colourful children’s dining set is made from natural organic bamboo fibre, so is a great eco alternative to plastic. Each set includes a decorated divider plate with matching bowl and handled cup. Comes in two designs – fun ‘Robots’ and cute ‘Animals’.

Baby clothing by From Babies With Love – from £15.90, Big Issue Shop, www.bigissueshop.com

This award-winning baby clothing line donates 100% of its profits to orphaned and abandoned children around the world, supporting organisations that help break the cycle of poverty and ensure children grow up in loving family homes. We love the frog, duck robot, rabbit and penguin designs on the babygrows (£21.90), T-shirts (£15.90) and reversible baby blankets (£26.90) in this ethically-sourced range.

Elephant Craft Kit – £12 from ZSL Shop, www.shop.zsl.org

This easy-peasy crafting kit is perfect for little fingers. With no cutting required, this kit includes everything you need (including pre-cut felt, plastic non-sharp needles, thread, stuffing and googley eyes) to make your own elephant toy. Everything bought from the ZSL (Zoological Society of London) shop helps support their ongoing conservation work around the world.

Eco and Ethical Christmas Gift Guide – For Him

For fathers, grandads, brothers, uncles, friends…here are some fabulous eco and ethical Christmas gift ideas for men

‘cor affection’ iPad cover – £50 from ono creations, www.onocreations.com

We love the super-stylish organic and ethical bags and cases from ono creations – all are made by artisans under fair conditions, using eco materials such as organic cotton, natural bamboo and reclaimed teak. This iPad cover (which measures 20.5 x 25cm and fits the iPad 1, 2, 3 and other tablets) is made from beautifully soft and tactile cork (we couldn’t stop stroking it!) with naturally-dyed bamboo lining. View the whole range for some uber-covetable clutch, shoulder and tote bags, wallets, cases and more.

Elephant Gin – £41.99 from Selfridges, www.sefridges.com

For gin conoisseurs, this special botanical blend of apple, elderflower, ginger and African wormwood and baobab (rarely used in gin making), is more than just a lovely tipple. 15% of proceeds from every bottle sold goes towards two elephant conservation charities; Big Life Foundation’s Ranger Club and the Space for Elephants Foundation. Both charities work to preserve Africa’s unique wildlife, help crack down on poaching, encourage wildlife tourism and create local employment opportunities in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Available in London Dry and Sloe Gin varieties (the latter a limited edition of 1,500 bottles), these beautiful bottles with hand-written labels and natural cork stoppers make this a perfect gift.

Wood-Packer backpack – £268.50 from Fabriano Boutique, www.fabrianoboutique.co.uk

This rucksack may look like it’s made of high-quality leather, but it’s actually made from FSC-certified wood! The material is thin carved wooden sheets with micro laser engravings, coupled to a tissue with the usage of water-based adhesives. The result is a soft material, almost like leather. The bag is large enough to carry a 13″ laptop and heaps of other kit. Fabriano have teamed-up with Tree-Nation to ensure they plant 350% more trees than they consume.

Jollie socks – £15 a pair from The Big Issue Shop, www.bigissueshop.co.uk

Christmas isn’t Christmas without someone getting a pair of socks – and it’s hard to beat these ‘Jollie’ ones! Available in eight colourful designs – with names like ‘The Prankster’, ‘The Speckled Punster’, ‘The Jester’ – each pair comes in a very jolly can. Jollie Goods, the brand behind the socks, describe themselves as a ‘more-than-profit’ enterprise which supports homeless charities and those caring for the homeless. For every pair sold, a pair of sturdy hiking boots is given to a local homeless charity.

Ombar chocolate bars – £1.99 each (35g) from www.ombar.co.uk

Raw chocolate Ombar bars are just too moorish! Raw chocolate can often be a bit gritty or bitter but these are lovely and smooth. Using 100% organic cocoa, unrefined coconut sugar, live cultures and real fruit, you can almost call these a heath food (raw cocoa really does have health benefits!) Available in a variety of interesting flavours including Lemon & Green Tea, Blueberry & Acai, and Cranberry & Mandarin, alongside standard milk and dark varieties, these 35g bars make excellent stocking fillers.

Upcycled canvas cufflinks – £22.50 from Yours Sustainably, www.yourssustainably.com

These smart cufflinks have been made from artists’ canvas rescued from charity shops, mounted on wood salvaged from building sites, then splattered with paint Jackson Pollock style! Various colours available, each design is unique.

Stainless Steel Growlers by Klean Kanteen – RRP £35.95, visit www.whitbyandco.co.uk for stockists

These lightweight, reusable stainless steel bottles by Klean Kanteen are a safe and healthy alternative to plastic and lined aluminium bottles. The classic ‘Growler’ is perfect for carrying around cool beer, win, juice or iced tea. The brushed steel is particularly stylish – also comes in a fancy dark amber.

RAW WINE box – £149 from www.rawwine.com

The wine lover in your life with be delighted to receive this special box direct to their door. The RAW WINE box (from the founder of the RAW WINE fair) features six rare artisan wines that are all from organic or biodynamic grapes, grown using low-intervention techniques and avoiding any nasties at production stage. With tasting notes to accompany each bottle, this is a great way to enjoy hard-to-get, fabulous wines.

Coffee with a heart at Old Spike Roastery, Peckham

There’s nothing bitter about the coffee at this new social enterprise cafe…

Opened just over six months ago in Peckham, south London, the Old Spike Roastery is a little different to all the other indie coffee shops opening in gentrified corners of London. This cafe employs homeless and former homeless people. Its mission is to get them get back on their feet by providing them with training, paid employment, and other support such as housing and language lessons.

Old Spike Roastery, Peckham (photo: Nathan Small)

Excellent coffee roasted on the premises

The coffee is excellent – single origin, speciality beans, hand-roasted on the premises. Also on sale is bread from Breaking Bread in Nunhead (a social enterprise that employs ex-offenders), plus Crosstown doughnuts and brownies.

You don’t have to go to Peckham to drink their coffee. Their hand-roast is available to buy online – if you subscribe you get a fresh bag sent out every Thursday tailored to how you make your coffee at home. Every bag sold goes some way to helping a homeless person get back on their feet.

a friendly smile at the Old Spike Roastery cafe (photo: Nathan Small)

Founded by childhood friends Cemal Ezel and Richard Robinson, both local to the Peckham area, the inspiration for the social aspect of the enterprise came from Cemal visiting the Reaching Out teahouse in Hoi An which employs waitresses with hearing loss. Richard was inspired to roast coffee in-house after spending three years in the caffeine-fueled city of New York.

So next time you’re in Peckham, drop in for a coffee and say hello. You may meet Lucy, their first trainee barista who is now working at Old Spike after the founders saw her selling the Big Issue outside London Bridge station.

Old Spike Roastery is open Mon-Fri 7.30am to 3pm, and Sat-Sun 9.30am to 5pm. Find them at 54 Peckham Rye, London SE15 4JR.

For more details, including how to buy their coffee online, visit www.oldspikeroastery.com

Premium coffee at Old Spike Roastery cafe — Speciality coffee at Old Spike Roastery cafe (photo: Nathan Small)

New wildlife film calls for action to protect Rwandan gorilla

A new wildlife documentary, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, aims to boost support for the critically endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda.

The 15-minute film, Hope by award-winning film-maker Peter McBride, can be viewed for free online (see below). The producers want to inspire viewers to support those working on the ground to save these majestic creatures, as well as help raise awareness via social media using the hashtag #gorillahope.

The film takes a behind the scenes look at the work of the charity The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and their dedicated team of trackers and anti-poaching patrols – their job is to monitor the mountain gorilla population 365 days a year (an estimated 20,000 hours a year), often in the dangerous and difficult terrain of Volcanoes National Park.

Hope also follows the local people who live next to the gorilla’s habitat and the work that is being done to change attitudes to these great apes. Years ago, mountain gorillas were hunted by poachers wanting to sell infants to zoos, or gorilla hands and heads as tourist trophies; children today are now growing up with a new found respect for these creatures.

47 years after Dian Fossey began her life’s work in mountain gorilla conservation, there are some facts to celebrate – the gorilla population has doubled from 250 to 480 (at the last census in 2010) – but this still represents small numbers and the situation remains extremely fragile with the great ape still on the critical list. The 120 people who now work for the Fossey Fund are the mountain gorilla’s only hope of survival – a message which Hope makes desperately clear.

Clare Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, explains: “Our research over the last 40 plus years has shown that simply having a protected area like a national park is not sufficient to save a species like the gorilla – which takes a long time to grow to adulthood and reproduces very slowly. Instead, extreme measures are needed.

“The Fossey Fund is all too aware that the survival of the mountain gorilla, and the safety of its habitat, is intertwined with the growth of a country in recovery since atrocities of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. The work we do is unique, challenging and costly but we are seeing results. The population has grown and while this is encouraging, the mountain gorilla is still critically endangered and without extreme conservation work could face extinction.”

Outdoor clothing brand Craghoppers, who funded the film and sponsor the Fossey Fund, has launched a campaign T-shirt to help raise much needed funds for the charity. The 100% cotton T-shirts are £12 and available to buy at www.craghoppers.com – £5 from each sale goes directly to The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.
http://youtu.be/hRfcdVQkmQA

Rainbo street food van at Kerb, Kings Cross

One sunny lunchtime this week, Goodtrippers took a walk up to London King’s Cross’ street food market Kerb – this collection of organic, homemade, foodie vans is always a good bet for lunch, and this trip introduced us to Rainbo for the first time.

Through selling their own delicious homemade gyoza, Rainbo are also funding a child worker rescue initiative in Nepal to help put an end to child labour. Organic food and charity – this is right up our street at Goodtrippers!

Food:

The centerpiece of their Spring/Summer 2013 menu is the homemade gyoza – choose from Chicken & Coriander; Tofu & Shitake; or Pork & Pickled Ginger (we plumped for a mix of the chicken and the tofu – 5 for £4, or 8 for £6 – which were fresh, flavoursome and light with none of the chewy or undercooked texture you sometimes get when gyoza isn’t done well. We meant to take a picture to share but had scoffed the lot before remembering!). Gyoza can also be bought in a Rainbo box which comes with crunchy Asian ‘slaw with caramelised peanuts and edamame beans (unfortunately sold out by the time we’d got there!). Fresh miso soup and a selection of Yogi teas are also on offer.

All ingredients are fresh and sourced as locally as possible: meat is free range, veg is picked daily from Rainbo’s local market, and the organic tofu is made by Clean Bean in Brick Lane, London. All their compostable and recycled packing is by London Bio Packaging and Biopac.

Where:

You can find Rainbo at Kerb in King’s Cross on Tuesday lunchtimes throughout June (and hopefully longer); Street Feast in Hackney on Friday nights; and at various other foodie markets and summer events. Best to check their website for and Twitter feed (@rainbofood) for updates on their whereabouts.

‘Good’ credentials:

Locally sourced, free range, homemade, organic food
Compostable, recycled packaging used
20p from every meal sold goes directly to the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of child labourers in Nepal. Through their Food for Freedom initiative, Rainbo have partnered with charity Base, and already rescued hundreds of Nepalese children from child labour, but with an estimated 2 million still forced to work in the tourism industry, there’s still a lot to do. Read more about their initiative here.

[google-map-v3 width=”750″ height=”350″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”roadmap” mapalign=”center” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”true” pancontrol=”true” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”true” streetviewcontrol=”true” scrollwheelcontrol=”false” draggable=”true” tiltfourtyfive=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”Kings Cross, London N1{}restaurant.png{}Rainbo at Kerb, Kings Cross” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]

Sri Lanka’s Lanka Challenge 2013 opens for entries

[gdl_gallery title=”Lanka” width=”105″ height=”110″ ]

Ready for a 12-day rickshaw adventure in Sri Lanka? One that not only raises money for local projects but opens your eyes to an incredible part of the world? Then sign yourself up to this year’s Lanka Challenge!

2013 will be the fifth year for the Lanka Challenge, which takes place 6-18 September in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Here you can explore the scenic, and more remote and challenging roads, via your auto-rickshaw (three wheeler). Organisers Large Minority are a responsible tourism outfit who host charity and eco-friendly events helping promote the destination and give back to the community.

The 12-day rickshaw challenge will give teams of two or three an up-close and personal experience of some of the most fascinating historical sites and natural delights of the spice island, while raising money for local charities and environmental organizations. And a bit of fancy-dress and tuk-tuk customisation from Challenge participants is always welcome!

Julian Carnall, Partner and Organiser of Large Minority, who along with Juan Paredes created the event says: “After the success of the last four Lanka Challenge events it is only natural to carry on our legacy and continue our meaningful adventure with the fifth edition. We hope to once again captivate the world through our responsible tourism initiatives, which in this occasion will also include the Tamil speaking areas”.

Paredes adds: “We want to bring positive change and make a difference, but most importantly we want to show the world that Sri Lanka is a safe and peaceful place to visit. It is an island of endless diversity, it is beautiful, sweet and gentle, exotic and interesting, simply fascinating – we both adore it.”

The organizers anticipate a total of 20 teams comprising 55 international participants for the 2013 edition.

The Lanka Challenge team will continue to support its local partners the Red Cross Society of Sri Lanka. A total of 10 per

cent of each team’s entry fee will be given directly to the Red Cross Society or their partners. Paredes adds: “Last year we collected over USD8,000 which we used for different charitable projects including donating invaluable medical equipment to the Jaffna region and planting more than 200 indigenous trees to offset our carbon emissions. In 2013 we intend to raise a very similar amount and touch many more lives through our sustainable initiatives”.

In addition to this, the organisation encourages each team to raise at least USD500 as well. Carnall adds: “The additional money raised by the teams can be used for their preferred charities in or out of Sri Lanka, or can be added to our total. We would also welcome support from any individual who is unable to join but still wants to support the event and raise funds”.

If you would like to find out how to get involved in a challenge of a lifetime, including full registration details, visit www.lankachallenge.com or contact the team via info@largeminority.com. Teams are made up of two or three people and all you need is an international drivers license. Only 20-25 teams are entered each year and places are filling up fast…the deadline for applications closes on 6 August 2013.

[google-map-v3 width=”750″ height=”350″ zoom=”12″ maptype=”roadmap” mapalign=”center” directionhint=”false” language=”default” poweredby=”false” maptypecontrol=”true” pancontrol=”true” zoomcontrol=”true” scalecontrol=”true” streetviewcontrol=”true” scrollwheelcontrol=”false” draggable=”true” tiltfourtyfive=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkermashupbubble=”false” addmarkerlist=”Jaffna, Sri Lanka{}hiking.png{}Lanka Challenge event” bubbleautopan=”true” showbike=”false” showtraffic=”false” showpanoramio=”false”]