Tackling food inequality in Bristol from a converted school bus

Fat Dad’s Community Kitchen (FDCK) hopes to be a literal “vehicle for change” and tackle food insecurity in Bristol from the back of a converted US school bus

“The aim of the project is to provide a safe space for meaningful conversation, sharing, skills development and training all while enjoying great food cooked and served from the bus,” says Paul Clifford, FDCK director.

“We want to promote conversation, wellbeing and skills development over a shared love of food.”

Working predominantly with the four groups most affected by social inequality in the city, those with poor mental health, young people, people from minority ethnic groups and refugees and asylum seekers.

The bus hopes to both serve excellent food and offer skills and community to people across the city.

Paul, who worked in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry for more than 20 years, had the idea to convert an American school bus into a street food truck after leaving his job.

“After a health scare and subsequent monumental breakdown I left the industry a little over three years ago,” says Paul, who lives in south Bristol.

“During which time I attended a Bristol Food Connections talk about street food and the one point I really took away with me was to ‘be unique’.

“Initially, I planned on becoming solely a private business, working markets, corporate events, weddings and festivals and FatDadsKitchen was borne – ‘FatDad’ being a nickname given to me by my darling children. I’d like to add that I’m not (that) fat, just used to be a lot fitter back then.

“However, I wanted to be something more than a standard street food vendor and use the ‘uniqueness’ of the bus to become something useful to the city.”

And so the charity arm of the business, FDCK, was borne.

FDCK will operate from the back of a converted US school bus

The 45-year-old reached out to Wilsons, Bomboloni and Souk Kitchen in Bristol, as well as Nopi in London, to gain some experience in working kitchens, observing and learning from some of the South West’s best chefs.

Paul is now raising money to convert the school bus and begin helping people across Bristol, saying: “Due to delays out of my control and the Covid-19 disaster, I have exhausted all my funds and have decided to reach out via Crowdfunder to get the final funds to complete the build and get the bus out in the community doing some good.

“I know this year has been incredibly challenging and now is the wrong time to be asking people to put their hands in pockets to donate. However, I am determined to start helping as soon as possible.”

Paul hopes for FDCK to work with community leaders to break down cultural barriers in Bristol, help people gain skills in catering and feed people who need it.

FDCK will offer work placements in its school bus kitchen, offer a weekly soup kitchen – Paul hopes to collaborate with FareShare South West to use leftover foods – and offer free school meals to students who may otherwise go hungry.

Paul hopes to launch FDCK as soon as possible

FDCK has been selected to be a part of this year’s Social Innovation Programme, a collaboration between Bristol Hub & Burgess Salmon, which are helping them finish converting the bus.

Paul has had help catering manufacturers Valentine Equipment, Cuisineequip and Sime Catering.

Simon Hulstone from Torquay’s Elephant Restaurant has donated two pieces of kitchen equipment and Line-X are coating the floor of the bus for £1.

“The mobile nature of the bus means FDCK will be operating primarily in more deprived areas in and around Bristol, covering areas typically underrepresented by ambitious projects such as this,” says Paul.

“It is especially pertinent given the immense isolation experienced by people in current times that the Bristol community works together to combat social inequality.”

All photos: FDCK

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