Giving back to the communities that support us
We believe that businesses can be forces for good and influence positive change in our communities. It has been always important to us as a company to balance purpose and profit and find ways to give back to the communities that support us and allow us to do what we love. We have identified a small number of non-profit organisations whose work we believe in and want to support through our business. These projects and organisations are a mixture of environmental and social initiatives. Some are based within coffee producing communities whose coffees we purchase while others are based within the communities in which we operate here in the UK and Margate specifically. While we are not officially members of the 1 % for the planet organisation yet, we choose to use the 1% of revenue as a benchmark on which to base our annual contributions.
Organisations and projects that support coffee growing communities
Because without them our business quite simply wouldn’t exist. And sometimes only paying more cash for coffee isn’t the best or only answer.
World Coffee Research
Established by Dr Tim Schilling in 2012, WCR is a non-profit agronomic research and development organisation whose purpose it is to : “Grow, protect, and enhance supplies of quality coffee while improving the livelihoods of the families who produce it.”
Since setting up the company in 2016 we have been proud members of the WCR check-off programme where we donate 5p per every 1kg of green coffee that we purchase through participating importing partners. As our business and coffee purchasing volume grows so do our contributions to WCR.
Through buying and drinking the coffee we purchase and roast you are also contributing to safeguarding a future for coffee and its producers. Thank you!
In our last financial year we donated £1,452.59.
You can read WCR’s 2023 Annual Report here.
The Stumping Project - Ethiopia
The project is jointly led by the non-profit Techoserve & our import partner Falcon Coffees and it is a great example of how simple solutions with the right support and implementation can have a huge positive impact in whole communities.
Currently, the largest impediment to increased coffee productivity in Ethiopia is the lack of tree rejuvenation, also known as “stumping.” Even though stumping coffee trees has proven to be extremely beneficial for improving yields and is a common practice in many coffee growing areas, Ethiopian small-holder coffee farmers are reluctant to stump older trees primarily due to the immediate short-term loss of income. By rejuvenation, Ethiopian growers can achieve a longterm living income from coffee farming.
To encourage stumping adoption, The Stumping Project incentivises farmers with farming tools and support. Over the last few years of implementation the project has already had a big impact for many growers as demonstrated by direct testimonies.
Since 2021, we have been making direct donation at the beginning of every calendar year. In Jan 2024 we donated funds ($1,400) to support 10 farming families taking part in the programme.
You can read the most recent report here. The report indicates some great successes with high adoption rates and significant increases in growers’ yields leading to the programme’s extension for another 3 years!
Drying Beds Project - San Lorenzo - Colombia
We have been purchasing coffee from by members of the San Lorenzo community continuously since 2019. Is we use this coffee as out mainstay House Espresso available all year round we are able to gradually build the volume we purchase, forge long-term business partnership and continue to offer consistently great quality coffee to all our customers.
Our export partner Siruma have operated in the area for a number of year and with their sustainability team carried out a baseline analysis of the particular needs in the community. One of the main challenges in the area is related to coffee processing, in particular drying. Majority of producers don’t have sufficient drying spaces. This key barrier in achieving the most of their coffees’ potential in terms of quality and related premiums as well as takes up a significant amount of time and energy to find way of drying coffee well without appropriate facilities.
In collaboration with a Finish roaster Siruma launched the Drying Beds Project a few years ago to help design and build durable, easy to maintain drying beds for those most in need and committed to quality. The pilot proved to be a success in improving the quality of coffee as well as the quality of life of growers.
In 2023/24 financial year we donated funds ($5,525) to build 5x new drying beds in the community and are looking forward to funding the next round in the coming year.
Other recipients:
Girls Gotta Run Foundation
GGRF is the first and only organisation investing in girls who use running and education to empower themselves and their communities in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is the birthplace of all Arabica coffees and Ethiopian producers constantly grow and process some of the most special and delicious coffees. Majority of Ethiopian coffees are grown by small holders farmers with women playing a crucial role in the production. Unfortunately, too often, women and girls don’t have the same rights, access to education and opportunities as men in their communities. GGRF are on a mission to change that.
In the last 2 years we have donated funds from the sales of some of our merchandise and topped up these to sponsor 1 girl and her family for 1 year ($1,000). We continue to donate £5 from all sales of our Curve caps.
Environmental projects and initiatives in the UK
Because we need to look after the one planet that supports all our life and where better to do it than close to home.
Marine Conservation Society
MCS is is the UK’s leading charity for the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. From research and education, through beach clean initiatives, habitat protection to publishing a sustainable fish guides, MSC takes a multifaceted approach to creating a sustainable future for our seas.
Being part of a seaside town community we are humbled by our Ocean everyday and want to play our part in helping to protect it.
Between January 2020 and August 2024, we have donated 5% of revenue from all our online coffee subscriptions directly to MCS to help fund their work in protecting our oceans and wildlife. With last year’s (Sept 23- Aug 24) donation totalling £1,930.45
Going forward (starting from our financial year 2024/25) we have made the decision to focus on supporting initiatives engaged in ocean protection closer to our home where the amount of funds that we donate can have a more significant and direct impact on our local community. For this we will be pooling our donations to the Margate based initiative Rise Up. Clean Up. and are currently in talk with them in how to best use the resources.
Rise Up. Clean Up. - Margate
RISE UP. CLEAN UP. is a community-driven social initiative with a mission to clean up Margate’s beaches and protect the local coastline, ocean and native wildlife.
Set up as a result of the excessive amount of litter left on Margate’s beautiful beaches RISE UP. CLEAN UP. works to inspire, unite and empower the local community to take action as one unit.
Run entirely by volunteers the group organises regular beach cleans to address the litter problem directly but also plan larger projects aimed inspiring civic pride and encouraging behavioural change, like installing drinking water fountains and commissioning large scale murals with environmental messages at various locations around town.
Dane Valley Woods - Margate
Dane Valley Woods is a communitiy woodland, local wild space run entirely by volunteers who have since 2003 been turning a former landfil waste site into a thriving woodland, for the benefit of people and wildlife.
Few areas of the United Kingdom have as little tree coverage as Thanet. In fact, Thanet has 80% less tree canopy coverage than the UK average, putting us on par with Greater London!
The Steering Group of Dane Valley Woods has been working hard to change this since its establishment in 2003. The 12 acre site lies next to the Dane Valley Allotments, and the aim is to involve as many people as possible through practical task days, wildlife talks and walks; as well as other events all taking place at the woodland.