Melvyn joined the Regather team as a volunteer box packer in 2019, when he moved to Sheffield. Now he’s taken on the roles of delivery driver, which is helping him get to know our customers and the streets of Sheffield, and volunteer on the Regather Farm, where he particularly enjoys turning the compost heap. Before coming to Sheffield, he worked for Manchester Veg People, a co-op supported by the Kindling Trust – a very similar organisation to Regather in that it looks for end-to-end solutions for our broken food system. He started a street kitchen in Manchester city centre, and this led to him becoming a trustee of Coffee4Craig, one of Manchester’s most dynamic homelessness charities. He has also worked for many organisations in the surplus food sector, such as Food Works here in Sheffield, Open Kitchen in Manchester, and Foodcycle, all good people who get food to those in need, whilst highlighting the criminal absurdity of wasted food, especially by the major supermarkets. The photo above is taken at Greenbelt festival, where he is part of a team of assorted surplus food obsessives who deliver over 2,000 meals during the August bank holiday weekend. Not this year, alas. 

Eimear joined Regather in February 2020 as bar and events manager, bringing a wealth of industry experience in events and hospitality; from music, theatre and virtual reality productions to local DIY and feminist organising.

Due to COVID-19, Regather suspended our events operations in March 2020 to focus our resources on our box scheme. Eimear is currently part of our box team, helping with packing and admin. While she’s been enjoying the proximity to beautiful produce and the pack-line camaraderie, Eimear hopes that there will soon come a day when Regather Works will once again host music, comedy and community events, and looks forward to welcoming you all here when that time comes.

In non-work (and non-pandemic) time, Eimear enjoys Sacred Harp singing, playing in bands and going to gigs and festivals.

Becky is part of the Box team and drives our trike on deliveries of the veg box. Becky has previously worked on a number of food initiatives including helping run a community kitchen at an East London music venue, helping to produce five course food banquets from food waste, supporting to train members of the homeless population in hospitality and kitchen skills and as a pizza-maker in a community garden. Currently she spends most of her time fighting weeds in her allotment, in the university library and running in the peaks or with GoodGym. 

Gareth Roberts is a founder member of Regather, leading the enterprise start up in 2005 and incorporating as a co-op in 2010. Gareth is passionate about cooperation, and has worked collaboratively with people from all walks of life for over 20 years. His various experiences as an arts administrator, event manager, lecturer and serial social entrepreneur bring useful skills and resilience to the team. More recently over the past 3 years Gareth has led our strategic developments around Community Economic Development and Sustainable Food Systems, ensuring Regather continues to occupy a position (and reputation) in Sheffield as an organisation leading on innovative economic and social change.

Doug Kemp’s journey to organic vegetable production started with community gardening in East London moving on to long term woofing on smallholdings, and later commercial veg box ventures before joining the Regather Veg box team in 2016. A passion for the outdoors, practical work, delicious local organic veg and the implementation of robust working systems has helped direct him towards setting up the Regather Farm. Doug has recently completed the Soil Associations Future growers course and attended market gardening courses held by LandBase. He also volunteers at Sheffield Organic Growers and Wortley Hall Walled garden. Prior to joining Regather Doug has experience of community development work across third sector environmental organisations working on project delivery, managing volunteers and delivering training.

Fran’s experience of running a large veg box scheme and working on organic farms prepared her for joining Regather in January 2014. Since then, she has developed the Regather Box scheme, enjoying working with local producers, developing efficient logistical systems, and taking pride in delivering excellent customer service. She is a director of the co-op with an interest in good food and local community. Fran also manages a therapeutic horticulture enterprise for mental health charity Sheffield Flourish.

Tim Feben has been with Regather for 6 years and is a Director of the Co-Op. He is a lifelong cultural enthusiast with a passion for engaging with and supporting a rich cultural programme across the city. He leads on the development and operation of the Regather Club and associated programme, and currently leads on the Folk Forest event series. He oversees the marketing and web development for the co-op along with the associated graphic design. He is also a board member for Opus Independents and was previously Chair at Peace in the Park festival. In his spare time Tim enjoys playing in bands, going to gigs & festivals, travelling and gardening.

Rachel Boyce has been a member of Regather since 2015 and has helped to support the organisation to achieve a step change in its financial and HR procedures since taking over the role in October 2016. Rachel works closely alongside our Chartered Accountants Third Sector Accountancy. Rachel also enjoys getting involved with the events side of Regather and manages our international volunteer programme. Rachel is a Director for local social enterprise Youth Discovery Ventures Ltd, and sits on the board of Trustees for Voluntary Action Sheffield.

Clem Bonneau started working with Regather as a volunteer in 2016 and gradually joined the veg box team, she does the weekly admin for the veg box as well as some promotional events. Her experience in farm-scale food growing, market trading and involvement in other veg box schemes has been an asset for Regather box scheme. Clem is also involved in several community projects around Sheffield trying to develop alternatives to the current food system, including working at New Roots.