Recently, we have had to rely on contributions and sponsorships from those who support our mission to help people, communities, and animals. We are a very small operation with charity at its heart, and that is why we
HAVE NOT
taken a salary or expenses. It might not be the right phrase but we aim to be a "Negative-Equity" Business. If you appreciate our work, please consider contributing.
We didn't always have to ask for contributions or seek sponsorship opportunities. One of the founding members, Chris, became relatively wealthy at an early age through what would technically become the first incarnation of crowdfunding, using the "snail mail" postal service.
If you are interested in the story, read on:
While attending a college for people with profound disabilities in the mid-1990s when the internet was new, Chris and his classmates came across posts in old-style chat rooms and IRC platforms claiming to offer a way to get rich. Although they assumed it was a scam, they decided to give it a try as it only cost £6 plus postage and they could print the information for free in the college computer rooms.
There was a letter circulating on the chat rooms which listed six addresses. The idea is that you send £1 to everyone on that list. The total cost would be £6 plus the cost of envelopes and stamps. Then, you rewrite the letter by adding your address to the first position, moving everyone else's address down a number, and removing address number six. Afterward, you make several copies, either by photocopying or printing as many as you need. Finally, you mail out as many as you can or hand-deliver them, which is what we decided to do.
Most people will probably ignore the letter as junk mail. However, Chris hand-delivered over 5,000 copies around his hometown. He received a return of £2,200 within a month. Subsequently, a steady stream of envelopes containing £1 coins, as well as coins and banknotes from other countries, started arriving in the mail. Dealing with all those envelopes became awkward, but it was worth it.
After a year, now at the age of 18, Chris decided to retrieve a copy of the letter he had originally sent and printed it again. He sent £1 to all those he had before. While on a touring holiday in the UK during the summer, he distributed several thousand more copies than he had previously. This turned out to be much more successful. Chris then began a new circulation of the letter, with his name at the top and his friends' names in positions 2-6, delivering them to random addresses around the country wherever he visited. Once again, it was a success.
The income generated was used for investments in stocks, premium bonds, precious metals, and property. It also led to the successful start-up of a few businesses, resulting in financial freedom before the age of 20.
In the early 2000s, with the rise of the internet and secure online payment systems like PayPal, Chris attempted to replicate the success of the DotCom boom digitally. However, his attempts were unsuccessful despite multiple tries. Although this would've meant people keep more of the funds because emails and mailing lists were cheaper than paper, envelopes and stamps. It would have also opened up more of an opportunity to international success.
Chris' friends went to live in different countries and travel the world, but Chris decided to seek help for his disability and work on improving his confidence so he wouldn't feel as isolated. During therapy, his focus shifted towards charitable causes, particularly those related to social inclusion and the well-being of both people and animals.
The individuals driving this project are a diverse group of friends. Due to experiencing verbal and physical attacks, we have temporarily removed most of our personal information.
We, at "Hubs by G.", came together in a support group for individuals who are non-verbal. The reasons for being unable to talk vary from being born with a complication to experiencing emotional trauma. Some of us have been non-verbal for so long that even if we wanted to speak, we would require physiotherapy and speech therapy. We also have friends who are verbal and assist with other projects, but they also face challenges such as learning difficulties and other physical and mental differences. We like to do as much as we can without relying on other people.
We prefer not to use the term "disabled." Instead, we like to say that we have "Different Differences" or that we are "DiffAbled," meaning Differently Abled. This is a more positive way to express that we are capable of working and owning a business. It reflects our determination to create a more positive and inclusive future.
We do not seek sympathy or attention for our actions because what we have done and now continue to do with your help, is NOT ABOUT US; they are about YOU and who we can assist through our goals and objectives.
We are a group of 16 individuals now based in different countries, working to expand our positive impact to more areas.
In 2006, we established a charitable group to assist people, animals, and communities. Throughout the years, we have undertaken numerous missions and activities. Below are some of the projects and initiatives we have pursued. Some of these have been put on hold since the 2020 lockdown, while others have evolved into different projects. Our primary focus now is on aiding those who are facing significant challenges. Some of our projects include:
● An animal sanctuary for farm and domestic animals.
● A residential recovery clinic for individuals struggling with mental health. Unfortunately, this closed when we could no longer secure a qualified mental health professional to volunteer a few hours a week.
● Seed-to-Stomach, a nine-month farming-based education program designed to help individuals with food-related challenges. This program aimed to educate participants about the entire food chain, nutritional benefits, balanced meals, and portion control.
● Micro wildlife habitats, involving the transformation of unusable and abandoned spaces to be more wildlife-friendly and more ecologically diverse.
● Community brewery specialising in "healthy brews" such as kombucha, water kefir, and naturally fermented botanical drinks.
● Better Travel, a smarter way to live and work while travelling. Think Air BnB but far different. Aimed at long term rentals where you can relocate anytime.
● Rural Mesh, a small mesh communication system aimed at connecting rural communities with access to the internet and off-grid communications between users.
● Sustainable Energy, a fundraising initiative focused on utilising inland waterways to generate electricity. If successful, this would have been expanded to develop electricity pylons with battery storage to ensure the functioning of the grid during power outages.
● Soup Kitchens, a network of over 30 venues spanning four continents. However, our last soup kitchen closed in 2018 due to reduced funding and Government grants.
● Gardeners Retreat, offers homegrown, homemade food (stocks and soups) and plant and soil tonics designed to supplement gardens or wildlife areas with bioactivity by feeding micro-organisms.
In 2013, we raised funds with the help of Christian and Sikh places of worship, shopping malls, and YouTube creators to conduct a humanitarian mission to the Philippines. Our mission involved helping farmers replant their land after Typhoon Haiyan (also known as "Super Typhoon Yolanda"), repairing houses, and assisting in the creation of safe routes for aid.
In 2019, we launched Heat or Eat (hEat) with the goal of assisting the elderly during the cold weather season and providing ongoing support to those in need throughout the year. Little did we know that just a few months after its launch, this project would evolve into a larger initiative called "All Against Poverty," replacing our Soup Kitchens.
Since 2020, we have been assisting people with food and grocery-related expenses. We provide batch-cooked, home-cooked fresh meals to locals and distribute grocery store gift cards to those who live further away. This allows families to purchase food that meets their dietary requirements. In addition, we also help with prescription costs, supply baby formula and baby food, provide essentials like clothing, and offer assistance with expensive school uniforms.
Our initiatives will continually evolve to support others, and we will reintroduce our previous projects as we are able to.