This week, colleagues across Academia came together with one shared goal: to support local people facing food insecurity and help raise awareness of the growing demand on food banks across the UK.
As part of National Foodbank Awareness Day 2026 on Friday 4th September, our Fundraising Committee organised a company-wide Food Drive, encouraging colleagues to donate essential food and household items for local food banks and community organisations.
Sometimes, making a difference can be as simple as adding a few extra items to your shopping basket.
With collection points set up across our Hemel Hempstead, London and Reading offices, colleagues donated everything from tinned food and pasta to long-life milk and everyday essentials. As the donations began to pile up, so did the sense of community behind the initiative.
Every item donated represents something important: support for a local person or family who may be going through a difficult time.
Stepping up for our communities
National Foodbank Awareness Day shines a light on the incredible work food banks do every day and the growing number of people who rely on them. Across the UK, demand for food bank services continues to remain high, making community initiatives like these more important than ever.
The response from colleagues was fantastic. Teams across Academia embraced the opportunity to give back, demonstrating the generosity and community spirit that exists throughout our business.
Together, we collected 150+ items, with donations delivered to three local food banks and community organisations. While the numbers are something to celebrate, it’s the impact behind them that matters most.
Supporting local organisations
Keeping our support local was a key focus of this year’s Food Drive, ensuring donations went directly to organisations helping people in the communities around our offices.
Our donations were delivered to:
These organisations provide vital support to individuals and families facing hardship and we’re proud to play a small part in helping them continue their important work.
Thank you
A huge thank you to everyone who donated, promoted the initiative, helped organise collections or simply spread the word.
The success of this Food Drive wasn’t about one person or one office. It was a collective effort that showed what we can achieve when we come together for a good cause.
The boxes of food may have left our offices, but their impact will be felt far beyond them.
As a team, we’ve helped support local food banks, raise awareness of an important issue and make a positive difference in our communities. That’s something we’re incredibly proud of.
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