Mohammad Yasin MP

Words from

Mohammad Yasin, MP for Bedford and Kempston

The last year has been a challenge for all of us, and it is in times of difficulty that we often turn to our neighbours and community for support.

Darryl Woolerson has proven himself to be one of those vital members of our community.

At only 17 years of age and in the middle of a pandemic, Darryl opened his sandwich shop, Choice Rolls in Bedford. Not only has his shop thrived, but Darryl has been providing incredible support for vulnerable families throughout Bedford and Kempston ever since.

Moved by the campaign to get the Government to provide free school meals for children during the school holidays in the pandemic, Darryl offered free meals for those who may have otherwise gone without during the October half term holidays.

At Christmastime, Darryl also offered free meals to vulnerable children and worked with others to secure donations of chocolate to accompany his meals. He reached out to other businesses locally to supplement what he could provide and invited members of the local community to participate in a pay it forward scheme. He even received a personal message of thanks from footballer, Marcus Rashford whose campaign on free school meals for kids was instrumental in the Government’s U-turn on providing free school meals to children in the holidays during the pandemic.

Despite being a fledgling business, Darryl helped sustain a number of families, some of whom visited every day during stressful and uncertain times. Not only has he shown real flair and imagination, growing, and maintaining a loyal support base in the most difficult of circumstances, he has also provided for his community and established himself as a local philanthropist.

Darryl represents some of the very best of Bedfordians, and in recognition of his drive and hard work, I nominated him for an Octopus Entrepreneur Award. The Octopus Group have chosen the very best entrepreneurs from across the UK, nominated by MPs, to inspire others with their amazing work and I’m so pleased Darryl’s hard work and community spirit has won him the recognition he deserves.

The pandemic has hit vulnerable families the hardest. It is a sad truth that food bank use has soared, and 31% of our nation’s children are trapped in poverty. Amidst rising costs of living but years of Government cuts to services, The Trussell Trust have seen a 47% increase in supported needed during the pandemic. Many feel that the Government’s response to the crisis has been inadequate.

Where the Government have failed to support those who need it most, it has been made even more important that we have local philanthropists like Darryl to step in and offer them the help they need.