When Craigy from Hemel Hempstead, UK first discovered Olio back in 2019, life looked very different. Living with CPTSD, Mixed Anxiety, Dissociative and Depressive Disorders meant that even the simplest social tasks could feel daunting.
So when he stumbled across Olio on the Google Play store, it wasn’t about people – it was about practicality.
“I only joined to collect free food and free items, especially scrap wood or broken things, since I love fixing items or creating things. The whole idea of meeting people in my community was definitely a significant barrier, and something I wanted to keep to a minimum.”
The idea of knocking on a stranger’s door felt impossible. But one day, that changed.
“I just decided to take the plunge and collected some pasta from an Olio-er nearby. Although that would be an easy task for most, for me, it was a big deal, and I was proud of myself. From that point, I started requesting a lot more. I still found it tough, but I managed it. After a while, it gave me the confidence to start commenting on the forum and sharing posts about my upcycling. This led to me making quite a few friends who I began to chat with privately.”
One of those new friends offered something he never expected: an invitation to Leicester Pride and a place to stay.
Attending had always been a dream for Craigy, but one that felt out of reach. Travelling, crowds, new people – all of it felt impossible. But his Olio friend’s kindness changed that.
“I couldn’t understand why someone would be so kind as to invite a stranger into their home and offer so much support to help them reach a goal. I wasn’t used to this level of kindness and support; the thought of what she did for me still makes me emotional today.”
That weekend became a turning point. Standing beside his new friend in the middle of the Pride crowd, Craigy felt something he hadn’t in years: safety.
“For the first time in a very long time, I felt comfortable with who I was. I felt accepted into the LGBTQ+ community. It was honestly life-changing.”
The following year, Craigy decided to go bigger: London Pride. But to get there, he’d need to face another fear – travelling alone by train for the first time. Once again, the Olio community stepped in to help.
“Another kind friend from the forum offered to travel down to my town, meet me at my train station, and travel down to London together, guiding me through how it all works.”
That independence – made possible by friends made through the Olio app – changed how he saw himself.
“London Pride was huge, challenging, but amazing. It gave me a huge boost in confidence and made me feel alive and proud of who I was becoming.”
As Craigy’s confidence grew, so did his desire to give back.
“I really love fixing; it’s definitely my biggest passion. There’s so much waste due to items breaking or stopping working, but they can easily be fixed with a bit of knowledge.”
Well known in the Olio community for his love of fixing things, Craigy was asked by a local Olio-er to repair her child’s old bike so it could be passed on.
“It’s really heartwarming when I know that other people can benefit from my passion. I’m not a Food Waste Hero, so this was a great, alternative way to help my community and reduce waste.”
The repaired bike is a reminder of how far he’s come: from being supported by others to becoming a source of support himself.
Through the app, he continues to find, fix and share things – and in doing so, share a little hope too.
“Olio provides a home for all of us with a shared goal of wanting to help the planet and reduce waste. This shared passion can often bring like-minded people closer together.”
What does Olio mean to you?
“Olio and its community have undoubtedly changed my life. There are no words for how much my friends’ actions meant to me; I can’t thank them enough for the number of barriers they helped me break down. Olio also continually gives me purpose by providing a platform for me to find broken things, fix things and of course reduce my food bill. It’s a huge part of my life. “