From Project to Purpose - Why Mobile Food Hub Is Becoming a Registered Charity
Mobile Food Hub is Changing the Way We Tackle Food Insecurity
Food poverty is not new — but it is growing
Across London and the UK, rising living costs, insecure work, and the long shadow of the pandemic have pushed more families, older people, and young adults into crisis. Today, many households are just one unexpected bill away from not knowing where their next meal will come from.
Mobile Food Hub was created in response to this reality. Not as a temporary fix, but as a bold, people-centred solution rooted in dignity, choice, and community power. Now, we are taking the next big step in our journey.
Mobile Food Hub is becoming a registered charity
This moment marks more than a change in status. It represents years of lived experience, learning, listening, and growth and a deep commitment to tackling food poverty in a way that truly changes lives.
How It Started: A Flagship Project Born from Community Need
Mobile Food Hub began as the flagship project of Urban Community Projects (UCP), created to respond quickly to rising food insecurity in Camden and surrounding areas.
From the beginning, one thing was clear:
Traditional food aid models weren’t enough.
Food parcels help people survive, but they often remove choice, create stigma, and fail to meet cultural, dietary, or family needs. Many people told us they felt grateful, but powerless.
Mobile Food Hub was designed differently
Instead of handing out standard food parcels, we created mobile food hubs that bring fresh, nutritious food directly into communities. People choose what goes into their food box. They receive pre-portioned ingredients, recipe cards, and support to cook healthy meals from scratch.
“Food poverty isn’t just about hunger — it’s about dignity, confidence, and feeling seen”
This approach restores something essential: DIGNITY AND CONTROL
Rasheeda Graham - Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Why I Set Up Mobile Food Hub
My name is Rasheeda Graham the Chief executive Officer at Urban Community Projects and Founder of Mobile Food Hub. I always say that I’m a community leader with 20+ years of experience working alongside families affected by poverty, inequality, and systemic barriers.
I saw first-hand how food insecurity impacts every part of life. From physical health to mental wellbeing, from children’s development to social isolation.
I also saw something else:
People didn’t want handouts. They wanted choice, respect, and opportunity.
“I wanted to create something that felt human. Something that didn’t make people feel small for needing help. Food should bring people together — not make them feel ashamed.”
Mobile Food Hub was born from that belief.
What started as a small, responsive project quickly grew. Demand increased. Communities trusted the model. Volunteers joined. Partnerships formed. And impact deepened.
Today:
72% of our users are from Black and Global Majority communities
We support families, older people, and individuals experiencing food insecurity
Our food hub also connects people to volunteering, skills development, and employability support
We Provide More than Food - We Provide Hope
Mobile Food Hub has become more than food provision — it became a community anchor.
Why Become a Registered Charity Now?
As Mobile Food Hub has grown, so did our responsibility.
Becoming a registered charity allows us to:
Strengthen governance and accountability
Apply for larger and longer-term funding
Build a strong, independent board of trustees
Protect the future of Mobile Food Hub for the communities we serve
Growing with integrity
Food poverty is not a short-term issue. It requires long-term solutions, and registered charity status gives Mobile Food Hub the stability and structure needed to scale our impact without losing our values.
A Model That Goes Beyond Food
Mobile Food Hub exists to tackle food poverty — but food is just the starting point.
Our model recognises that food insecurity is often linked to:
Low income and insecure work
Poor health and disability
Social isolation
Lack of access to skills, confidence, and opportunity
That’s why our food hub also:
Creates volunteering and leadership pathways
Supports employability and confidence building
Offers welcoming, inclusive community spaces
We don’t just ask, “What food do you need?”
We ask, “What support will help you thrive?”
Tackling the Root Causes of Food Insecurity - With Support
Our Vision for the Future
As a registered charity, Mobile Food Hub’s vision is bold and clear:
To reduce food poverty by increasing access to healthy, nutritious food
To restore dignity and choice in how people receive support
To empower communities to lead solutions, not just receive services
To challenge the idea that food banks are the only answer
“My hope is that Mobile Food Hub becomes a blueprint — showing that we can tackle food poverty with compassion, creativity, and community at the centre.”
We want to expand our hubs, strengthen partnerships, and continue building pathways from crisis support to long-term stability.
Why This Moment Matters
Registering as a charity is not the end of a journey — it’s the beginning of a new chapter
It’s about ensuring that Mobile Food Hub can continue to serve communities not just today, but for years to come. It’s about honouring the trust people place in us. And it’s about building something that lasts.
Food poverty is rising - But so is community power
Mobile Food Hub is proof that when people are given choice, respect, and support, real change is possible!
Join Us
Whether you’re a volunteer, partner, funder, or supporter, you are part of this story.
Together, we can tackle food poverty, restore dignity, and build stronger communities.
#getfood #getsupport #getinvolved