Sir Tom goes back where it all started to help homeless

Published on Saturday 6 December 2008 10:02

SIR Tom Farmer has returned to the site of his childhood home to deliver a timely lift to a charity helping to feed the city's homeless.

The multi-millionaire Kwik-Fit founder visited the Cyrenians' warehouse in Leith to present 16,000 to the charity which distributes unwanted supermarket food.

The money – donated by the Scottish Business Achievement Award Trust – will buy a forklift truck to help volunteers move the nine tonnes of food they handle every week.

Sir Tom, 68, grew up in a block of tenements overlooking the Jane Street depot – in what was then Union Street – and helped the charity buy its first refrigerated van.

The Cyrenians produce around 15,000 meals a year for people living on the streets and in hostels across the Lothians.

Key contributors include Marks and Spencer, Robert Wiseman Dairy, Kraft and local farmers who donate surplus food which has not been sold. All the food is within its use-by date.

Sir Tom said: "There are about 35 charities that use this service to create meals. It's such a simple approach really – we all wonder what happens to unwanted food after all.

"What I like about Cyrenians is that its work can be measured – you can see exactly what is happening.

"We all know there are a lot of unfortunate people in this city, but there are a lot of good things going on too. This charity is one of them."

The SBAAT, of which Sir Tom is a trustee, distributes money donated by businesses across the region to good causes.

The forklift truck they are buying will be used to train Cyrenians volunteers – many of whom are homeless or vulnerable – giving them valuable skills to help find work.

The charity's project manager, Carol-Anne Alcorn, said helping distribute the food gave many of the volunteers a purpose to their day.

"It gives them something to get up for in the morning," she said.