More than 3,000 people in Croydon sign up to help provide food to vulnerable neighbours

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A charity providing meals for homeless people was on the brink of closing, but was able to provide food thanks to the quick thinking of volunteers.

More than 3,000 people in Croydon have signed up to help their most vulnerable neighbours during the coronavirus crisis through local Covid-19 ‘mutual air groups’.

The volunteers are organised locally into more than 60 WhatsApp and Facebook groups from Thornton Heath to Waddon and Addiscombe to Purley.

The groups gained traction through social media, as well as with the help of 50,000 flyers donated by creative hub Matthew’s Yard, which were distributed by volunteers.

So far good deeds from neighbours have included collecting shopping for people self-isolating and picking up medical supplies.

The power of the group was shown when a soup kitchen run by Faiths Together in London Road was on the brink of closing due to a lack of food.

But Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid (CCMA) managed to connect the charity with local food producer Eat with Tom Mathews.

On March 20, the soup kitchen was able to serve up beetroot hummus, courgette bread and horseradish cream that was going to be thrown away when the café was suddenly forced to close.

The network has also helped find young, healthy volunteers for charities including Croydon Nightwatch to step in when older volunteers had to self-isolate.

CCMA member Ben Taylor said: “Seeing so many people come together in such a short time has been truly inspiring.”

Councillor Hamida Ali, Croydon council’s cabinet member for safer Croydon and communities, said the council was working to link up the volunteers with Croydon Voluntary Action.

She added: “Croydon has a burgeoning voluntary and community sector, and the development of Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid and its 29 associated mutual aid groups is just one more example and testament to the strength of community spirit here in Croydon.”