{"id":41684,"date":"2020-03-03T16:47:40","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T16:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=41684"},"modified":"2020-03-03T16:47:40","modified_gmt":"2020-03-03T16:47:40","slug":"ex-fraudster-turns-life-around-by-helping-those-in-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2020\/03\/03\/ex-fraudster-turns-life-around-by-helping-those-in-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-fraudster turns life around by helping those in crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I want <strong>to spend the rest of my life making amends, says boss of Poor &amp; Hungry<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" title=\"Ex-fraudster turns life around by helping those in crisis through charitable cafe, Coffee &amp; Cakes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HhH0Qiwxdlw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><noscript><iframe title=\"Ex-fraudster turns life around by helping those in crisis through charitable cafe, Coffee &amp; Cakes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HhH0Qiwxdlw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div><figcaption>Andrew Mackenzie speaks about the opening of his new cafe, Coffee &amp; Cakes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>\u201cSO, what did you do for work before setting up the organisation?\u201d I ask Andrew Mackenzie, chief executive of Poor &amp; Hungry Community Interest Group.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cGood question,\u201d he pauses and laughs nervously.&nbsp;\u201cBefore I was an ex-offender.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Two years ago, the 52-year-old had just come out of prison for the fifth time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Mr Mackenzie was jailed for 41 months for his last offence over a VAT tax scam he set up worth almost \u00a3700,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Today, he is the boss of Poor &amp; Hungry, a not-for-profit organisation which strives to help those in crisis in South Wales.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been homeless. I\u2019ve been hungry. I\u2019ve been through the system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cTurning my life around is an easy thing to say but it\u2019s very difficult to do.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cI did 30 years\u2019 worth of bad behaviour. My role now is to spend the rest of my life making good,\u201d he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Poor &amp; Hungry is a community interest company which helps those experiencing poverty or homelessness as well as domestic abuse survivors, ex-prisoners and armed forces and the elderly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>A CIC is a type of company set up to make profit to benefit the community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Mr Mackenzie started putting the idea for the CIC together in 2016 when he was serving his most recent term in prison.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The organisation provides hot nutritional meals, assistance with sleeping facilities and provides night shelter in seven churches from December to March each year.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The full 100% of all profits go directly to Poor &amp; Hungry and its sister organisation Boomerang Cardiff.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Mr Mackenzie\u2019s latest venture involves opening a new caf\u00e9 on Caerphilly Road in Birchgrove serving hot drinks, refreshments, sandwiches and cakes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The caf\u00e9, which Mr Mackenzie described as a \u201cquirky Greggs\u201d, opened on June 1 after receiving a \u00a325,000 grant from Cardiff Council to it through the stricter lockdown period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-facebook wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CoffeeNcakesBirchgrove\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>The\ncaf\u00e9 is to be fitted with a fully functioning\ncommercial kitchen where volunteers will\nmake 1,000 meals a week for people in crisis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>At\nthe same time, volunteers can attain qualifications in the catering\nindustry to NVQ Level 3 which can help them build up their skills set\nto re-enter the world of work.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>I had the pleasure of meeting Jordan and Max \u2013 two of Poor &amp; Hungry\u2019s volunteers who helped transform the former Aga kitchen store into the caf\u00e9.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Both Max and Jordan completed a roofing course in Newcastle upon Tyne , paid for by Poor &amp; Hungry, to help them renovate the caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>They are set to undertake a barista course which Mr Mackenzie hopes will prepare them to take over another new project &#8211; a retro-fitted coffee bar, which is to open near a new city centre Lloyd\u2019s Bank in May.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Max, who is homeless, suffers from social anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re\ntrying to draw him out of his shell and make him more confident,\u201d said Mr\nMackenzie.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The\nopening of the caf\u00e9 has relied on the generosity of donations and various\ngrants.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cLiterally\neverything that you see in here has been given. Absolutely everything that we\nhave. From chillers at the front, the counters, the fridges,\u201d said Mr Mackenzie.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Mr Mackenzie wants the caf\u00e9 can work together closely with the local community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>He said the caf\u00e9 fills a gap in the area for a breakfast caf\u00e9 collective for residents going to work at 6am.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to secure our future here in the town.&nbsp;It\u2019s critical for us. It\u2019s a unique community here,\u201d he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The caf\u00e9 will sell sandwiches made by The Devonshire Pantry sandwich shop up the road.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\ndon\u2019t want to take away his trade. We want to enhance it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Mr Mackenzie also wants to run a scheme with a local primary school, in which the organisation provides breakfasts for the children.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-1400x788.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/03\/top-image-1400x788.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Poor &amp; Hungry CEO Andrew Mackenzie alongside volunteers Max and Jordan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Those\nwho are unemployed can book out the kitchen to come and make food or cakes for\nsale.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cAll we ask in return for the time is if you\u2019re\nmaking cakes, make some for us,\u201d said\nMr Mackenzie.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Directors\nand employees all work as volunteers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Mr Mackenzie is on working tax credit and has paid out of his own benefits to help pay for travel expenses and food \u201cfor the lads\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cIf I had \u00a3150,000 to pay a managing director for this organisation, why am I not giving it to 100 people to help them get accommodation?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cAt\nthe end of the day I\u2019m not driving around in flashy cars,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>He\npoints to his watch. \u201cThis is just a \u2018plastic cheapy\u2019,\u201d he laughs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>His\ncriminal background meant that Mr Mackenzie struggled to form a charity, opting\ninstead for a community interest company.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>He\ndescribes the process of becoming caretaker of the organisation a \u201clong road\u201d\nin which he had to go before the commissioner at Companies House.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Poor &amp; Hungry also leases a mobile food van which travels around office blocks and factories in the centre of Cardiff.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Mr Mackenzie wants the company to buy its own van once the lease is over, to achieve his original plan of breaking into the festival scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe want to go into that high concentration environment, take as much as we possibly can by flooding it with volunteers and products, and bringing the cash back,\u201d he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Currently,\nMr Mackenzie is steering the group\u2019s work towards the\nelderly population.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Mr Mackenzie is concerned at the number of elderly people living in Cardiff who are forced to make a choice between food and gas and electric.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\nwant to be able to take away one portion of that issue for as long as they\nlive. We want to be able to help them every day,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/statswales.gov.wales\/Catalogue\/Community-Safety-and-Social-Inclusion\/Poverty\/householdbelowaverageincome-by-year\">About 19%<\/a>&nbsp;of pensioners in Wales were living in relative income poverty between 2015-16 and 2017-18.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-datawrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" title=\"Percentage of pensioners living in relative poverty in Wales from 2009-2019\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/RVwi9\/2\/#?secret=n5jYO3KVDA\" data-secret=\"n5jYO3KVDA\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"400\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" title=\"Percentage of pensioners living in relative poverty in Wales from 2009-2019\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/RVwi9\/2\/#?secret=n5jYO3KVDA\" data-secret=\"n5jYO3KVDA\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"400\"><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>When\nspeaking\nabout his earlier life, Mr Mackenzie said the value of what he\u2019s doing\nnow outweighs it all.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the love. It\u2019s all about love and kindness towards others.&nbsp;I\u2019ve done enough damage in my life but it\u2019s the old me. It\u2019s gone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t do anything about my past. But I can do everything about my future,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Donations can be made to the organisation at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.poorandhungrycic.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\">www.poorandhungrycic.co.uk<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If you would like to become a volunteer, call 07743 049134 for more information.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I want to spend the rest of my life making amends, says boss of Poor &amp; Hungry \u201cSO, what did you do for work before setting up the organisation?\u201d I ask Andrew Mackenzie, chief executive of Poor &amp; Hungry Community Interest Group.&nbsp; \u201cGood question,\u201d he pauses and laughs nervously.&nbsp;\u201cBefore I was an ex-offender.\u201d&nbsp; Two years ago, the 52-year-old had just come out of prison for the fifth time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr Mackenzie was jailed for 41 months for his last offence over [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":41697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[234,111,14,3,113],"tags":[233,956,10,1012,1013,563,984],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-41684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-birchgrove","category-food-and-drink","category-longer-reads","category-news","category-uncategorised","tag-birchgrove","tag-cafe","tag-charity","tag-child-poverty","tag-food-poverty","tag-homeless","tag-poverty"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - 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