Creating Impact through your society

Every pound your society spends is a choice.

Running an event means buying things: food, coffee, merch, prizes, venues. Social procurement just means choosing suppliers that do some good with that money. Same budget, more impact.

Some of the questions you might want to ask yourself when choosing a supplier to work with or buy from..

• Could a social enterprise or local supplier do this instead of a default chain?
• Have I checked the Buy Social directory for this category?
• Is the event affordable to join, with a free or low cost option?
• Are dietary, access and welfare needs covered?
• Is there a plant-based or lower carbon alternative to the food I am buying?
• Am I avoiding single-use disposables where I can?
• Have I noted why I picked this supplier for the next committee?

These sit under the 2025 UCL Sustainability Strategy and the Union's aim to be a flagship for sustainability. Use them as a quick sense check when you plan.

Catering & Food

A starter list of social enterprises and mission-led suppliers, most of them London based. Always confirm current pricing, minimums and availability yourself. This is a starting point, not a formal endorsement. We encourage you to use low carbon delivery options where possible!

Caterers

• Lovage Project — non-profit, plant-based, zero-waste caterer that pays the London Living Wage and supports people facing homelessness and food insecurity; book vegan buffets, canapés and cakes for events.
• Social Pantry — trains and employs people leaving prison; full event catering from canapés to buffets and banquets.
• Fat Macy's — supports Londoners in temporary and hostel accommodation toward a home of their own; bespoke event, party and buffet catering.
• 9Kitchens — trains women facing barriers to work, many of them refugees; mostly plant-based event catering, canapés and seasonal menus.
• DabbaDrop — closed-loop, plastic-free, low-emission delivery in reusable steel tiffins; plant-based Indian-inspired feasts, good for committee dinners or office spreads.
• Pockets — plant-based falafel trader with near-zero food waste and compostable packaging (a small ethical business rather than a formal social enterprise); falafel pittas from a street-food stall.

Bakeries

• Luminary Bakery — trains and employs women who have experienced disadvantage or violence; celebration cakes, brownies and treats.
• Breadwinners — gives refugees and young people seeking asylum their first UK jobs, training and mentoring; artisan organic bread and pastries, available wholesale for events.
• The Dusty Knuckle — trains at-risk young people, including young offenders; sourdough, sandwiches, pastries and catering platters.

Drinks

• Nemi Teas — employs and trains refugees; Fairtrade, organic, plastic-free teas and chai, plus staffed tea stalls you can book for events.
• Queer Brewing — the UK's first queer and trans-owned brewery, donating 10p from every pint and can to LGBTQ+ charities; cans and kegs (including alcohol-free) for bars and events.
• TOAST Ale — brews beer using surplus bread to cut food waste and gives its profits to charity; cans and kegs for events.
• Lemonaid & ChariTea — Fairtrade, organic soft drinks and iced teas that put 5p per bottle into social projects in the regions they source from; bulk soft drinks for bars and events.

Merch, print & kit

More info to come here..

Gifts, prizes & welfare

More info to come here..