Charity providing hot meals and chats to people in lockdown

By Will Brook

A charity which combats hunger, loneliness and food waste will continue to provide hot meals and chats to vulnerable people during the lockdown.

Charity ‘FoodCycle’ tackles food poverty by gathering surplus food and turning it into nutritious hot meals to be provided to needy residents in Norwood Junction, Lewisham and Peckham, as well as other places in London and beyond.

The charity has adapted its service to provide takeaway food and deliveries in order to continue serving its communities during the lockdown.

Under the new coronavirus restrictions, FoodCycle users can collect nutritious food from their local FoodCycle project, or if they are isolating someone close to them can collect it.

FoodCycle chief executive Mary McGrath said: “Our number one priority will always be the safety and welfare of our guests and volunteers and we will continue to work with our teams, volunteers and venues to maintain our high standards and keep everyone as safe as possible while delivering this vital service to vulnerable people across the country.”

In April, as a reaction to the first national lockdown, the charity launched its

check-in and chat service, which provides people struggling with loneliness due to social isolation with a number to call for a friendly chat.

This service will also continue to be available for callers.

Research conducted by the charity found that 80 per cent of FoodCycle users who attended with children said they had skipped meals this year because they could not afford or access food, and 75 per cent of FoodCycle guests said they were lonely.

A Foodcycle service user said: “It makes me very happy that FoodCycle is still looking out for people and caring for the community during this time.”

Anyone who falls under the category of critically vulnerable, or has been told to shield, can access extra provisions through the NHS responders service.

Pictured top: A man leaves FoodCycle with a food pack