News and Press
Jam Boy Founds SuperJam Tea Party Charity For Older People
19 Jun 2008
Nineteen year old entrepreneur and jam maker, Fraser Doherty, this week launches his new charity venture - Super Jam Tea Parties - for older people.
Fraser Doherty made headlines last year when he became the youngest ever supplier to Waitrose's network of UK food stores, with his range of healthy jams. He has since started supplying to many other retailers across the UK.
Now he's launched a charity – SuperJam Tea Parties – to give isolated or housebound older people the chance to socialise at local community centres over tea and scones.
Although the first Tea Parties will start in Edinburgh, Fraser has big plans to roll them out across Scotland. The charity is supported by The John Lewis Partnership in Scotland: Waitrose are donating the tea and cakes, while John Lewis will supply the teapots, cake stands and tablecloths. The City of Edinburgh Council has given its full backing to the initiative and is providing the venues for the events.
Fraser's childhood memories led to the idea behind the Super Jam Tea Parties. He was inspired by his gran – the one who gave him the secret recipe that has led to his success – and her work with housebound older people.
“For as long as I can remember as a child, my gran would take my brother and I on visits to the elderly people in her neighbourhood. It wasn't so much meals on wheels as scones, cakes and jam on wheels! While she provided the food, we'd talk to the old folk and sometimes play some music for them."
“I've kept these memories close to my heart and that's why I'm launching Super Jam Tea Parties, to carry on the work my gran started years ago, but on a larger scale."
This month two SuperJam tea parties will take place: on 18th June at Sighthill Community Centre and on 26th June at Meadowbank Stadium's Cafe.
There are several other monthly parties planned at other venues around Edinburgh and Fraser hopes that the concept may eventually develop to include tea dances for older people. A team of volunteers are helping to make the Tea Parties go with a swing. Fraser has enlisted expert knitters to produce 30 different tea cosies, while students from local colleges and Universities will come along to help serve the tea and scones and chat to the elderly guests.
SuperJam are now looking for more student volunteers to chat to the guests, as well as schools and bands who can come along and provide entertainment.
John Craig, one of the elderly guests, said:
“It sounds like a great day out and I'm looking forward to meeting and chatting with students. I hope these SuperJam tea parties become a regular thing here in Edinburgh."
Jessica Williamson from Edinburgh University, one of the student volunteers coming along to Sighthill to help out, is looking forward to the afternoon. She said "It will be great to get out of the student bubble and meet people of my grandparents' generation who always have such great stories to tell."
Speaking on behalf of the John Lewis Partnership, David Lincoln, Branch Manager of Waitrose Morningside said how pleased they were to be supporting the SuperJam Tea Party Charity:
"It's a fantastic idea and Fraser's business ethos - which is about putting something back into your community – chimes well with our own. We're sure that these Tea Parties will take off in a big way."
Cllr Norman Work, Vice Convener for Health, Social Care and Housing for the City of Edinburgh Council said:
"When Fraser first came to me I thought this was a fantastic idea and I am happy that we can use his entrepreneurial ideas to such a good end. The opportunity to get out and interact with others is very important as you get older and I'm sure the older people will enjoy the occasion. With this excellent example of partnership working and with Fraser's enthusiasm, these events will hopefully spread across the city!"
-ENDS-
For further information, interviews or photographs please contact:
Shaheena Abbas on 0131 556 0770 shaheena.abbas@pagodapr.com or Giselle Dye giselle.dye@pagodapr.com
Notes to editor:
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Fraser Doherty is from Edinburgh and is 19 years old.
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Super Jam Tea Parties is a registered charity founded by Fraser Doherty in April 2008
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SuperJam comes in 3 flavours; Raspberry & Cranberry, Blueberry & Blackcurrant, Rhubarb & Ginger
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To read more about SuperJam or to read Fraser's 'blog', check out: www.superjam.co.uk
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Fraser won an 'Enterprising Young Brit Award' at the age of fifteen and was later invited to Downing Street and commended by Gordon Brown.
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He was also named the 'Global Student Entrepreneur of The Year' in a competition that saw him compete against 750 students from around the world, many of whom were running multi-million dollar enterprises.
