Half the Story
There’s something special about the shortbread biscuits coming out of Half the Story’s bakery – and we aren’t just talking about the delicious flavours and perfect crumbly texture.
The bigger story behind these biscuits is the people who make them. Half the Story hires people who have experienced homelessness, creating meaningful, stable employment which empowers them to leave supported accommodation.
Trusted referrers like the NHS and charities specialising in support with addiction and homelessness help connect Half the Story with people looking for work. Once part of the team, everyone is paid a real living wage and offered wider support, such as coaching and mentoring. All profits from biscuit sales are reinvested back into their mission.
Savour the original, lemon or chocolate chip editions and reflect on how each and every bite is bringing hope, purpose and dignity back to people who’ve experienced homelessness.
Top tip: they’re the perfect pairing with a social enterprise tea or coffee.
Homelessness non-profit Green Pastures got the Half the Story ball rolling. They reached out to Matt Parfitt, CEO of social enterprise network Grace Enterprises, about teaming up on a brand that gets people into work back in 2021.
Fast forward to 2023, Matt and co-founder Stuart Cunniffe landed on biscuits as the product to bring the idea to life, spotting a gap in the social enterprise foodie market. Plus, it leaned into Stu’s background in catering and baking.
By spring 2024, they already had 10 employees in the Half the Story bakery, changing their life through biscuit making. The plan is to keep growing, baking more biscuits and changing more lives.
Founded By
Matt Parfitt & Stuart Cunniffe
