At Portfolio, we believe that being a people business means looking beyond the workplace and supporting the communities around us. Last week, some of our team and clients rolled up their sleeves and joined Plan Zheroes at their Feed the 500 event – a day dedicated to providing meals for those who need it most.
About the event
Plan Zheroes is a charity that connects businesses with surplus food to local charities who can use it. One of their long-standing partners is Borough Market, where volunteers collect unsold food at the end of the day and redistribute it to local causes.
Feed the 500, run in collaboration with Team Tactics, Emerge Cookery School, and Borough Market, took that mission a step further. On 17 September, teams from across London joined forces to cook over 500 meals, all distributed to local charities supporting the homeless and vulnerable.
The results speak for themselves:
- 625 people fed
- 1,055 spring rolls fried
- £1,300+ raised for Plan Zheroes via a raffle
- Multiple charities supported, including Draper Together, The People’s Army, Blackfriars Settlement, Oasis Hub Waterloo and more
More than just cooking
For our team, the day wasn’t just about preparing food – it was about connection, teamwork and perspective.
Sarah McLeod, our Operations Director, captured it perfectly:
“It’s great to do something different together, outside of our day-to-day. You can really see the impact it has and meet so many people in the community we’re part of.”
The atmosphere was buzzing all day. As Chris Williams, HR Business Partner, put it:
“It’s been wonderful getting everyone together for such a great cause. A vibrant, fun atmosphere – and something we don’t normally do.”
Why giving back matters
Giving back is woven into our culture at Portfolio. As Karl Wooley, Director, reflected:
“In our daily working lives, we can get so focused on what we do for a living. Taking time to give back put’s things in perspective – it reminds us there’s more to life than work, and that our energy can make a real difference to those less fortunate.”
For us, Feed the 500 wasn’t just a volunteering day. It was a reminder that community and business go hand in hand – and that by working together, we can make a genuine impact.
Thank you
A huge thank you to Plan Zheroes, the colleagues, and our clients who joined us. We’re proud to support causes that reflect our values, and even prouder of the people who bring those values to life.
