Antonia Benfield awarded Freedom of the City of London

Doughty Street Chambers are thrilled to announce Antonia Benfield has been awarded Freedom of the City of London for her incredible project, Square Mile Food Bank, which was set up in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

In March 2020, Antonia set up Square Mile Food Bank with the support of Age UK London to assist residents in the City of London who are in need of essential food and provisions.  The food bank was made available to all local residents, regardless of age. 

After only a month, they had over 30 volunteers in which they’ve delivered over a hundred food parcels. Square Mile Food Bank was initially set up to help vulnerable and elderly local residents, their remit now includes homeless people who’ve been re-housed in the area’s hotels.

In an interview with Unearth Women, Antonia said: “I hope people will come out of this realizing the need to be supportive of people who live locally, but also globally. I hope that it will have a profound effect on climate change, that people will pause for thought and realize that now is a time that things can be done differently.”

The Freedom of the City of London is a recognition awarded to people who have achieved success & recognition in their chosen field and remains as a unique part of London’s history to which many people who have lived or worked in the City have been proud to be admitted.