Small charity Find Your Feet punches well above its weight when it comes to improving life for deprived rural areas, empowering and educating all members of the communities it works with. Each June, the charity taps into the collective British craving for spice with its annual ‘Curry for Change‘ campaign, harnessing our simpering over spice to alleviate food poverty.
Eating in, eating out, or shaking it all about cooking up a curry for your very own spicy supperclub, anyone and everyone can get on board and make a difference through their dining. With their free event packs, Find Your Feet provides all the support you need to host a successful at-home curry-up. Make it tasty so your guests donate extra generously in return for your hospitality! If your culinary skills are lacking, pop to your nearest branch of Cook and pass off their curries as your own efforts – there’s even a ‘£10 takeaway deal‘ on offer.
Or just eat out to show your support. 10 top Indian restaurants have partnered with Find Your Feet this year, offering ‘Curry for Change‘ menus and special dishes carrying donations, along with the simple option of adding a pound to your bill.
Need more reason to treat yourself and curry favour with your nearest and dearest, not to mention the folks at Find Your Feet? Allow chef Vivek Singh, of The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho, to share his piquant passion and stir you into action…
Why is Find Your Feet’s cause one that’s so close to your heart?
Much of the work of Find Your Feet happens in the tribal areas with some of the most marginalized communities in India. A lot of these places are in or close to the areas where I grew up for some time. I was able to see first-hand the work that this wonderful charity does with the community, and felt an immediate connection with their work.
You’ve visited Find Your Feet project sites in India – what did you see that demonstrated the need for change in the communities?
Tribal people have been living their lives a certain way for thousands of years, whilst the environment around them is constantly changing. Due to this, the communities need new skills to survive and thrive in the ever-changing environment.
The very basic concept of keeping things aside, and saving for your children’s education, or taking up and keeping a job are not things they have learned or needed until recently. These basic skills they have not had, or needed, for so many years are now required, and without them there is no future.
Can you tell us about some of Find Your Feet‘s work in this community? How has the charity’s work impacted and improved day-to-day lives?
An initiative that particularly touched me is the charity’s teaching and encouraging tribal women how to save. Find Your Feet sets up support groups and co-operatives where woman saved about 20p per month each. Over a period of 15-16 months they had saved up to buy themselves a couple of coats.
The women are empowered to support and help each other with their business ideas, including farming.
The impact of each and every pound these people save in making such a drastic difference in their lives is so great compared to our daily lives here in the UK.
You’ve signed all three Cinnamon restaurants – Club, Kitchen, and Soho – up to the ‘Curry for Change‘ initiative. What’s each venue doing?
At The Cinnamon Club, we’re pledging £5 from the sale of each Roast loin of wild Cumbrian red deer to Find Your Feet. We’re donating £2 from each order of Free-range chicken breast korma with saffron and almonds at Cinnamon Kitchen, and Cinnamon Soho‘s Tandoori spiced chicken, cashew nut korma and pilau rice will send £2 per dish the charity’s way.
What’s your favourite dish out of the three on offer for ‘Curry for Change’?
I love them all equally!
If you were hosting your own ‘Curry for Change’ evening, what would you serve your guests as a guaranteed crowd-pleaser?
A delicious biryani!
The Cinnamon Club cookbook is full of recipes sure to delight diners – what would you suggest potential ‘Curry for Change’-ers cook from it for their own charity supperclubs?
I would suggest a rump of lamb with corn sauce, followed by a deliciously exotic mango brulee for dessert!
- For more information on Find Your Feet‘s work and the ‘Curry For Change‘ initiative, visit http://find-your-feet.org
- Visit Vivek’s restaurants The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho and dine out to make a difference.
