A Birmingham-based global training business has given its backing to a homeless campaign led by the Mayor of the West Midlands, with the release of a new charity cookbook.
OTD has revealed a recipe for raising funds with the launch of the OTD cookbook, featuring the favourite recipes of their employees based in six different continents and the personal stories behind them.
The international business, which moved its headquarters to Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter last year, will donate all proceeds from sales of the cookbook to Change into Action, an alternative giving campaign led by Mayor Andy Street, to help people sleeping rough in Birmingham.
OTD director of operations, Andy Crotty, said: “We’re thrilled to launch our new OTD cookbook. As a business, our relocation to Birmingham city centre has been a huge factor in our growth, but it has also highlighted the serious problem of homelessness in our city and we wanted to do something to make a difference.
“We approached the Mayor’s office to find out how we could help and were able to learn more about the Change into Action scheme. We’ve been a regular supporter of local and national charitable causes during the past decade and with a collective passion for people and food, a charity cookbook seemed a natural choice.
“These recipes are all about family, happiness and love. It’s our way of showing people sleeping rough – many of whom we’ve got to know personally – that we care and are offering practical support for those who find themselves in a situation many of us can only imagine.”
Launched in December 2017, Change into Action is jointly supported by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and led by Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street. The collaborative scheme aims to shift support to specialist charities and street teams already working to change the circumstances of rough sleepers.
Neelam Sunder, project manager for the WMCA Homelessness Task Force said: “We’re delighted that OTD has chosen to help raise funds for the Change into Action campaign, which is making a real difference to the lives of rough sleepers in Birmingham.
“As every penny from sales of this book will be donated to Change into Action, the OTD cookbook will make a great festive present – you’ll be passing on the gift of flavour to your loved ones while raising money for a great local cause.”
The OTD cookbook contains a banquet of beautiful dishes from as far afield as Mexico, Brazil and China, with highlights including a recipe for apple strudel from Austria and Philadelphia’s ‘Wednesday night special’.
The first one hundred printed copies of the cookbook have been donated by Hobs Repro, with the independent printers pledging to produce additional copies at cost price.
Helen Tomlinson, office manager at Hobs Repro, said: 'It was a real pleasure to be involved in the printing of the OTD cookbook. What a great idea to ask for recipes from all different parts of the world and put them together for a good cause - the book looks great too!”
The OTD cookbook is available to purchase via www.otd.uk.com/shop. All proceeds will will be donated to Change into Action.
CAPTION: Andy Crotty, OTD director of operations; Helen Tomlinson, office manager at Hobs Repro; Neelam Sunder, project manager for the WMCA Homelessness Task Force
