Sat. Oct 12th, 2024

Deliveroo and BGT’s Kojo Anim Launch Christmas Crackers That Will Help to Crack Hunger for UK Families in Need 

Deliveroo (Full Life campaign) has teamed up with Britain’s Got Talent finalist and funnyman Kojo Anim, to launch a special range of charity Christmas crackers called ‘Crackers Cracking Hunger’, to help provide crucial meals for families in need.

Aiming to make crackers mean more this Christmas, instead of finding throwaway toys inside the crackers, customers will find a Christmas hat and a hilarious joke written by comedian Kojo Anim who is backing the campaign.

Each box of six crackers costs £10, all of which will be donated to The Felix Project and FareShare, providing the equivalent of a week of meals for a UK household in need by redistributing good food that would otherwise go to waste. This comes as it was reported that 1.3m UK families relied on food parcels over the festive period* last Christmas, and this year millions of people will also rely on food banks and charities.

Deliveroo’s charity Christmas crackers will be available to purchase across the UK from Deliveroo Editions via the app or website from November 29th 2021 until sold out. Customers should search ‘Crackers Cracking Hunger’ to find an Editions near them.

Any Deliveroo customers who are not within delivery of an Editions site, or who would like to make a monetary donation rather than receiving crackers, can still support the cause by making a donation on the ‘Crackers Cracking Hunger – Make a Donation’ page. 100% of all donations will support Deliveroo’s efforts to deliver more meals to families who need them via The Felix Project and FareShare.

Kojo Anim said, “I love Christmas, so when Deliveroo asked me to get involved in supporting FareShare and The Felix Project, helping households in need this December, I couldn’t say no. I always say my gift is to tell jokes but my purpose is to help people.”.

Kojo Anim continues “Deliveroo is a brand that really has become a central part of our communities across the country over the past few years and even more so during Covid-19. It’s brilliant to think we can collaborate to give the ultimate gift to those in need – food – which will hopefully give some festive joy to those facing tough times. That’s what Christmas is all about for me.”

Kojo, who grew up in foster care and spent many years volunteering at homeless kitchens at Christmas says, “I know what it’s like to feel desperate and be the one crying on your knees. Before Britain’s Got Talent,  I was exhausted and fed up and things could have easily gone downhill – it’s scary how quickly things can escalate for people.”

“I’m lucky because I’ve always had close family and friends around me and while we weren’t well off growing up, our community was what made us stronger, particularly around the festive season. I know not everyone has that and what I love about this campaign is that it does more than just deliver a Christmas meal to someone in need – it brings the community to them.”

‘Crackers Cracking Hunger’ is part of Deliveroo’s wider charity initiative, ‘Full Life’ which helps to deliver meals to people in need throughout the year and use Deliveroo’s unique network for good and play its part in supporting the communities in which we work. Deliveroo is on track to deliver its pledge of one million meals to people in need, with over 800,000 meals already delivered.

Deliveroo’s commitment to food poverty comes off the back of data released by the Food Foundation which shows that UK food insecurity remains higher than pre-Covid levels, affecting an estimated 4.7 million adults (9% of households) over the last six months. This compares to pre-Covid levels of 7.6%.

Will Shu, Deliveroo CEO and founder said: “Christmas is a time to share, make memories and enjoy food with loved ones. Sadly, through our longstanding relationship with The Felix Project and FareShare, we know that food insecurity impacts so many at this time of year. To help combat this issue, we have created a special range of charity Christmas crackers that will provide joy thanks to Kojo’s new jokes and, very importantly, help the nation to give the gift of food this Christmas.”

Lindsay Boswell, CEO at FareShare said: “This winter is going to be very difficult for millions of families and children struggling with cost of living increases and income challenges. We are very grateful for Deliveroo’s and Kojo’s support to the communities that FareShare supports across the UK, at a time when that help is really needed.”

Steve Thomas, CEO at The Felix Project said: “With the cost of living continuing to rise, we anticipate there will be greater need than ever this winter. Thanks to the support of Deliveroo and Kojo, we can keep rescuing surplus food and delivering it to good causes to help feed London this holiday season.”

Boxes of Christmas crackers will be available to purchase from 29th November on the Deliveroo app from 18 Deliveroo Editions locations including London, Brighton and Manchester. Each box of six crackers costs £10 and 100% of this will be donated to the charities. Delivery and service fees will still apply.

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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