At our core, we believe that charitable work should have a direct, positive impact on those we help, and we’re thrilled to have made a tangible difference in the lives of those in our community through our recent project with Fat Macy’s Sohaila restaurant in Shoreditch.
This five-story building is home to a thriving restaurant and natural wine bar, complete with co-working space for third-party enterprises. It’s also the headquarters of the Fat Macy’s charity, which uses the restaurant as a pathway to move people experiencing homelessness from hostel to home.
Our Redworx division, working alongside QOB Interiors and Brookfield Properties, recently carried out a light electrical refresh on the restaurant and upstairs offices, covering everything from the basement restaurant and kitchens to the ground floor restaurant, dry goods store, and beyond. All the work was carried out during January and February free of charge, allowing this incredible charity to continue doing what it does best: empowering and uplifting people through training, employment, and support.
About Fat Macy's
Fat Macy’s is a London-based charity that provides opportunities for homeless individuals to rebuild their lives. Founded in 2016, the charity aims to empower the homeless community by providing them with training and employment in the food industry. Through their pop-up supper clubs, catering services, and training programs, Fat Macy’s has helped numerous individuals gain skills, confidence, and financial stability.
The charity operates through a social enterprise model, with profits from its events and catering services reinvested back into the program. Fat Macy’s participants receive training in cooking, food hygiene, and customer service, as well as support in finding long-term employment and securing permanent housing. The charity also offers mental health support and financial advice to help individuals rebuild their lives.
Over the years, Fat Macy’s has helped over 100 individuals, with many successfully securing employment and housing after completing the program. The charity has received recognition and support from various organizations, including being named Social Enterprise of the Year at the 2018 UK Social Enterprise Awards. Through their innovative approach, Fat Macy’s continues to break the cycle of homelessness in the UK.
A helping hand
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this project possible.
- Moss Electrical provided 2nd fix electrical items for back-of-house areas.
- Zumtobel Group provided lighting to the stair core and back-of-house areas.
- Scolmore Wiring provided accessories for front-of-house areas.
- Matrix and Cire Energy provided fire alarm and VRF validations, respectively.
- Bansall provided basins and taps.
- Future Lighting provided lighting for the front-of-house areas.
- Connections Contracts and LNE Electrical also generously provided someone to install for a day each.
We couldn’t have done it without them, and we’re grateful for their unwavering support. We also want to acknowledge the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition, including Ben Templeman, Project Manager, Andrew Gladwin, Electrical Supervision & Installation, Mike Winton, Public Health Installation, Jasper Parsons, Electrical Apprentice, Mark Tilyard, Project Manager, and Craig Bennett, Redworx Contracts Manager. Their expertise and commitment to the project were crucial to its success, and we’re immensely grateful for their hard work and dedication.
