INTRODUCING FEED THE HUNGRY UK CEO, GAVIN KIBBLE MBE
Q: Gavin, for those who don’t know you yet, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Absolutely! I’m Gavin Kibble, and I’d describe myself as a Christian social entrepreneur; I love designing Christ-centred solutions for social and community issues. My wife, Viv, and I have been married for 38 years. We have three grown-up children and one grandchild. Alongside Viv, I am part of the leadership team at Mosaic Church in Coventry. My professional background was originally in finance – I was co-Managing Director of the UK arm of a multinational forklift truck company. But God had other plans for me.
Q: So how did you go from corporate finance to leading Feed The Hungry UK?
It really started in 2008 when my brother phoned me in crisis. He had tens of thousands of pounds worth of debt and needed help. At the same time, three different people in church told me they thought God was asking me to start debt counselling. It was like the story of Eli and Samuel – I couldn’t ignore it. So I handed in my notice, walked away from a comfortable salary, and started a Christians Against Poverty debt centre in Coventry.
It didn’t take long to see that most of our clients had so little income they couldn’t even afford food. That realisation led me to start Coventry Foodbank in 2011, operating from a couple of churches with some spare office space. Within a year, it had grown to 11 centres, feeding thousands.
Q: What kept driving you forward with all these new projects?
Honestly, it was simply following where God led. Psalm 133 says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity…for there the Lord commands a blessing.” Again and again I’ve seen that when Christians work together across the city, God multiplies what we’re able to do. So alongside the foodbank, we set up a winter night shelter, a befriending service for isolated older people, and eventually a community supermarket in Foleshill. Each project came out of prayer, a need we saw, and a conviction that God was calling us to act.
Q: Looking back, what moments stand out to you most?
There are quite a few! One highlight was establishing The Halo Centre, a 25,000-square-foot warehouse, in 2016. We couldn’t have known then how vital it would be during the pandemic, when demand for emergency food support shot up overnight. We were able to keep food moving right across Coventry and even run summer holiday food programmes for thousands of children. Another was in 2020, just as lockdown began, when a vision God had given us – to prayer-walk every street in Coventry – went ahead anyway. It turned out to be one of the only things people could do under restrictions, and it blessed the whole city. The MBE was given to me by Princess Anne in 2021 for helping people facing food crisis, particularly during the pandemic.
Q: Where does Feed The Hungry come into the picture?
In 2019, I met Gwyn Williams, then CEO of Feed The Hungry UK, and quickly realised we shared the same heart. In 2021, we brought Coventry foodbank and Feed The Hungry together. From a small local team we’ve now grown to 21 staff, working from The Halo Centre, and we support projects both internationally – feeding children in 29 countries – and here at home through food pantries and through other social initiatives. Having been a part of Feed The Hungry UK for 4 years, I became CEO earlier this year.
Q: What role does faith play in your leadership?
Everything we do is underpinned by prayer. I gave my life to Jesus as a 14-year-old at a Christian holiday camp, and I’ve never looked back.
If I’d known in advance all that God had in store, I’d probably have run in the opposite direction! But He waited until I was 46 to call me into this because it took that long to prepare me. It’s a huge privilege to be able to go to work and do something you enjoy. You’re never disappointed when you’re walking with Him.
Q: Finally, why should supporters be encouraged about Feed The Hungry’s future?
Because God is faithful. He’s provided at every stage, from those first bags of food in Coventry to today’s international work, taking food and the Gospel to those who are struggling to support themselves. We’ve got an incredible team, a clear sense of calling, and the privilege of serving the world’s most vulnerable in Jesus’ name. I believe the best is yet to come.
