Oakey Doakey sends chutney to India!

Published by Anonymous for Two Rivers Housing in Health and also in Communities, Environment, Housing

In just their first week in business selling home made jams and biscuits, a group of homeless Forest youngsters has sent lemon curd and hot crab apple jelly to India.

The order came in when Gloucester resident Abduk Muktadir visited the Forest Food Fayre and tasted the products.

"I was blown away by the quality. I thought my family and friends back in India would love this so I put in and order and the Oakey Doakey team have sorted it all out for me, flying it out fresh from their kitchen. It should make a taste sensation with the spicy menu the folks at home enjoy," he said.

The Forest Food Fayre at Speech House at the heart of the Forest of Dean was the Oakey Doakey bunch's first real commercial outing, but they scored a massive success selling over £350 worth of products and winning the show's top award for best display.

It has been a roller coaster week for the youngsters, all of whom are busy rebuilding their lives after troubled years on the streets.

The Oakey Doakey crew found themselves in the media spotlight a few weeks ago when they got a massive vote of confidence from Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant.

The visit was organised by Two Rivers Housing Association which, had already won £35,000 of Euro cash and Lottery funding for the youngsters to set up their business.

Nathan Fowler, 22, said the whole experience had been an unbelievable booster.

"We have all been homeless and hopeless. We have so much to offer but people would cross the street rather than offer us a helping hand. But Two Rivers and Rooftop Housing Associations believed in us and gave us hope and self-confidence. It's now up to us to make the business work. Thank you to everyone who has put their faith in us. We won't let you down," he said.

The crew all live at Acorn House in Cinderford where they are cooking up a host of cakes, sauces and jams using ingredients grown or foraged locally.

"You can taste the energy and enthusiasm the team put into these products. They are pure products from the Forest with love at the heart," said Two Rivers community fundraiser Jane Cordier.