In addition to his demanding work schedule at ABode and Gidleigh Park, Michael finds time to be involved in a number of important local initiatives as well as support some very worthwhile and meaningful causes and charities.
Families for Children www.familiesforchildren.org.uk
Michael is Patron of this important West Country voluntary adoption
charity. As such, Michael brings to the charity his own personal
experience of being adopted into a loving Exeter family. Familes for
Children aims to place children from all over the UK who have
experienced loss and upheaval within stable, loving families in Devon,
Cornwall and Dorset. Says Michael, "It is a great honour and privilege
to be asked to be the Patron of such a worthy charity. This is a
subject that is close to my heart and I intend to use my profile to
raise awareness of adoption and the positive changes it makes to your
life." If you would like to support Families for Children, please
telephone 01364 645488 or email acolton@familiesforchildren.org.uk
PORT-ER www.port-er.com
PORT-ER is the charity where mobility matters. Its vision is to bring about better patient care for people with mobility challenges through national and international development.
PORT-ER is delighted to have Michael Caines MBE as its patron.
Farms for City Children www.farms4citychildren.co.uk/index.htm
Michael has been appointed one of the Vice Presidents of Farms for City
Children. Children's writer Michael Mopurgo and his wife Clare founded
Farms for City Children in 1976 at Nethercott, deep in the Devon river
country. The charity now operates 3 working farms. Michael went to
Nethercott and met with the Chief Executive Helen Chaloner. Whilst he
was there he joined a group of school children from Prior Weston school
and he picked potatoes in the field with them. Farms for City Children
aims to aims to expand the horizons of children from towns and cities
all over the country by offering them a week in the countryside living
together on one of the farms.
Journey of a Lifetime Trust (JoLt) www.jolttrust.org.uk
Since 1983, the Journey of a Lifetime Trust (JoLt) has been making a
positive, lasting difference to the lives of hundreds of disabled, ill,
abused and neglected young people.
The Exeter Festival of South West England Food and Drink www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk
Exeter's homegrown food festival was inspired by Michael Caines. Since
it began in 2003, it has evolved into a major food exhibition of
national and even international importance. More visitors than ever come
to Exeter's Northernhay Gardens each year to visit artisan food and
drink producers from throughout South West England. In the popular
Cookery Theatre, Michael organises and hosts the chef's demonstrations,
supported by the region's best and best known chefs. Teaching young
people to eat well and enjoy and appreciate real food is one of the aims
of the festival, and there is a Food is Fun marquee.
The Exeter Festival of South West England Food and Drink has proven itself to be a great success and an event that is popular and sustainable. The many thousands who have visited over the past years are proof that people in Exeter and the West Country — ordinary people not ‘foodies' — really do care about real food, food made with passion, food that is not massed produced, food that is better and more tasty and more enjoyable to eat. For further information about the Festival contact the Festival Administrator Lisa Partridge by email.
Supporting local charities
Cancer, sadly, touches too many of us, directly or indirectly. Inspired
in memory of a special friend, Michael has created a dish, the Chez
Nello salad, that is served in all MC Café Bars, with 10% of proceeds
donated to local cancer charities. In Exeter, all monies raised go to FORCE; in Chester monies raised are donated to Claire House Hospice; in Manchester the Mustard Tree charity benefits; while in Glasgow, monies raised are donated to the Maggie Centre.
